Battle Ground resident James Townley offers his support for Chris Grewell in his race for Battle Ground School Board

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” Many will recognize this phrase from The Who’s hit “We Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and it plays over my mind as we approach another important election in Battle Ground this November. 

We have seen two recent levies — seeking increased funding for the Battle Ground School District — fail. And while there is certainly more than one reason for this, you can count on people to invest in things they value. Therefore, the lack of success of these levies is an official vote of “No Confidence” in the way things are currently going in the BGSD. Any company worth its salt, which was losing investors, would inevitably step back and ask “why?.” Maybe they have drifted from their core values? Maybe they do not have the right team? Maybe they have been financially irresponsible? Maybe all the above. Either way, changes must be made. The investors demand it, because we all know that doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results is, well, insane.

This is exactly where we find ourselves in the elections for Battle Ground School Board. We are the forced investors (parents/taxpayers), and we have an opportunity to mandate positive changes in personnel and trajectory, particularly in the race for District 3. In Chris Grewell, we have someone who understands discipline, who can thrive and lead in high stress situations, and whose purpose in entering this race is the love of neighbor. He will strive to put schools back on the path towards academic excellence rather than lowering standards, offer a trustworthy and efficient handling of financial resources, and will work to put the power back in the hands of parents instead of protecting the agendas and ideologies of the Teachers Union and Olympia. His opponent is part of the same ongoing machine that has lost the confidence of the community. So, unless you want to “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss,” vote for a change in the right direction, vote for Chris Grewell, and let’s not get fooled again.

James Townley
Battle Ground

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