Questions for the Candidates Alamogordo School Board Elections District 1

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The Alamogordo School Board election for District 1 includes two candidates. Incumbent Judy Rabon, who is also serving as school board president since August of 2021. Rabon faces a challenge from Craig Danekas in District 1. Alamogordo voters will decide Tuesday between the two candidates who are running for a seat on the Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education.

Rabon has represented District 1 throughout the past four years. Rabon taught in Alamogordo Public Schools for 16 years.

Rabon said she has served on the capital outlay oversight committee in Santa Fe, and she served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. A CASA volunteer is an advocate for abused and neglected children who need representation in court.

Rabon is challenged by Craig Danekas. Danekas is a relative newcomer to Alamogordo having arrived in 2016 from Freeport, Illinois near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. He was a teacher. In Alamogordo he is co-owner of Casa y Tierra Abstract and Title Co. He also is on the New Mexico Land Title Association Board and is a member of Maingate United. 

Danekas ran a prior unsuccessful campaign for the Alamogordo City Commission District 2 seat in 2018, losing to former Democratic Party Chairperson, Nadia Sikes.

Danekas has only participated in partisan sponsored events. He failed to attend nor participate in the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Forum hosted earlier this month for the Alamogordo School Board Candidates.  Danekas also failed to respond to the emailed  KALHRadio and AlamogordoTownNews.com's questions for the candidates.

What follows is the responses from the candidate that did respond and is credible in her effort to reach a broad variety of constituents from across the spectrum of Alamogordo voters.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 1. Provide a brief biography of your governing and business experience or if a new candidate for office what community experience qualifies you for public office?

Judy Rabon Answer: " My heart is that of an educator, a teacher. I want the kids of our district to succeed and to become lifelong learners. I think that like most of you my first experience, as an adult with public education, was as a parent. My own children were educated in Alamogordo and are successful businessmen today. I was a teacher for APS for 16 years and had the honor and delight of working with hundreds of kids and their families. I served on the Capital Outlay Oversight Committee, appointed by Gov. Martinez and was a CASA volunteer in Otero County.

I am a lifelong resident of Alamogordo and grew up in family businesses. My siblings and I worked alongside our parents at The Butcher Shop, a wholesale/retail meat market, that evolved into Van Winkle's Farmers Market, a grocery store chain with 5 stores in New Mexico. My husband and I are partners along with his brothers and their wives as owners of Mesa Verde Enterprises and AggTech. We have supported our community for many years.

Because of my belief in and dedication to our schools, experience as an educator, and business experience with multiple family businesses, I feel I have qualities that are beneficial in serving as a board member. The 4 years as a board member have provided a great deal of hands on experience and I have participated in education and trainings offered through New Mexico School Board Association."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 2: Please describe your understanding of your role and responsibilities as a school board candidate.

Judy Rabon Response: "The main responsibilities of a school board member are very clear and direct.

• Employee a local superintendent for the school district and set the superintendent's salary.
• Review and approve the annual school district budget.
• Develop educational policies for the school district."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com: (Incumbent) If an incumbent please describe 3 achievements that you are proudest of in accomplishments during your tenure in office?
(New Candidate) Please provide 3 initiatives you will champion as a school board member and
explain how you will facilitate garnering support from a majority of the board and the public across constituencies.

Judy Rabon Response: " The past 4 years as a school board member have presented many challenges and successes. Three successful achievements include:

• Led efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel and aggressively fought for increased teacher wages across the board. This includes a step increase for years of experience. A huge win for our dedicated teachers.
• Championed telehealth appointments in schools in partnership with GCRMC-Urgent Care for enhanced student well-being.
• Successfully passed a $15 million bond, securing funding for security and upgrades to existing schools."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com Why are you running for office? What is your motivation to be an office holder?

Judy Rabon Response: "I want to make this very clear. I have no political ambition, no personal agenda, no ax to grind. I am not a part of any national movement to do away with or control public education. I am asking for your vote because I believe in public education and that a good school system is the most important part of a community. I will continue working hard to address issues that need changed, while encouraging and recognizing the fine citizens that are a part of the Alamogordo Public Schools team as they work to educate the children of our community."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com What do you view as the biggest opportunity as a leader in the role you are seeking? How will you expand community engagement and bipartisan leadership?

Judy Rabon Response: "The biggest opportunity that I see as a board member is to continue to make pathways available to all students to facilitate learning. We can do this by enhancing curriculum to align with the needs of a rapidly changing society and preparing students for future careers. By building strong relationships with parents, teachers, and the wider community to foster collaboration we create a supportive learning environment." 

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com . The demographics of Otero County 4.6% Black, 8.1% Other 39.7% Hispanic, 46.9% Caucasian, 7.1% identify as members of the LBGTQ community according to the US Census. What outreach have you done to build consensus and constituencies within the diversity of the citizens in your district?

Judy Rabon Response: "Being raised in Alamogordo to young parents, in a Christian home, acceptance of all people was our family motto. Having friends of all races and lifestyles, it was normal to be involved in cultural differences and to learn from and accept people for who they are. This is the way I was raised and the way that I live today."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com . Integration was introduced to Alamogordo due to a military directive and a coach took it on. Equality of Girls in Sports was a federal mandate and the system under the coaching staff took the lead ahead of much of the state. Alamogordo public schools during those periods of innovations was ranked in the top of the nation. Given the diversity especially with the military students within the Alamogordo Public Schools and the military mandates for diversity and inclusion education and recognition to be a part of public-school curriculum per military directives such as AFI36-7001, how will you message and manage the limits to your authority to conservative leaning constituencies with the requirements and mandates of state, federal and military required curriculum around diversity and inclusion?

Judy Rabon Response: "The State of NM has laws and regulations concerning this topic. As a school board member, you are bound by your oath to adhere to these rules and regulations."

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com The job of school board member is one that is focused on one staff member decision, the only staff issue a board member may legally engage in is for is the school superintendent. What is your criteria for a successful superintendent? What qualifications are you looking for in a superintendent?

Judy Rabon Response:  "Alamogordo is a unique community with unique needs. The job of superintendent is extremely important in our small town environment. There are many criteria to look at and analyze.

• Education and Experience- Qualifications must be met.
• Leadership Skills- Ability to set vision, manage resources, maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Educational Standards and Policies.
• Strategic Planning and Implementation-Implement strategies to improve student achievement and the performance of the district.
• Communication and Collaboration- Effective communication skills are crucial. The ability to work effectively with diverse groups and build consensus for a path to a positive and inclusive school environment. 
• Financial and Organizational Management- Ability to manage a complex organization and make decisions that support excellence in education while staying within budgetary constraints
• Community Engagement and Advocacy"

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

AlamogordoTownNews.com What are the two best attributes of your local school system? What within the local school system brings you the most pride?

Judy Rabon Response: "This is a great question and one that I am always proud to talk about. The greatest attributes of Alamogordo Public Schools are the 800 plus members of this outstanding team. These people work hard every day in every way to serve our students, their families and our community. Their dedication is unmatched and they have my support, admiration and respect. Alamogordo's finest!"

Craig Danekas FAILED TO RESPOND

We believe the public has a right to receive as much candidate information as possible from a variety of outside sources.

Media has a responsibility to dig, investigate, question and report. The public has a responsibility to gather information and make an informed decision and then of course vote. We take our role serious and appreciate the candidates that take their role with an equal level of respect for the process.

For transparency sake we share that our media business is owned by Rene Sepulveda a registered Democrat. He has issued a few personal endorsements via opinion pieces. Those are of his personal choice and may not reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

The primary author of a majority of the content on our site is our lead journalist, a registered Republican, Chris Edwards. Mr. Edwards during past elections assisted in the campaigns of two Democrats and one Republican Judge. The judge who's campaign he assisted with in crafting a web presence, and social media engagement, won her race. She is a seated 12th Judicial District Judge.

The editorial board consists of representation from each party plus a Libertarian, Independent and Decline to State affiliations. We do not offer commentary on their responses in this series of articles, and thus allow you the reader to decide the merits of the candidate based upon responses. A future endorsement commentary will be issued closer to November 7th.

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