I voted YES in the Arlington ISD bond election. This will serve as my first recorded vote in an election where no incumbent has to answer for a legislative record. My opponent likes to post things about his support for teachers on Facebook, but he has been noticeably absent from the debate surrounding the biggest education issue facing this city.
In an interview shortly after he ousted longtime champion of public education Diane Patrick, my District 94 opponent, Tony Tinderholt, said of the Arlington bond election “It’s ultimately the voters that will decide whether it should pass.” This is a typical politician non-answer, just like his “50/50” support of school vouchers in the same interview. It is easy to tell everyone you support education and support teachers, but elected officials are expected to make decisions, not offer empty rhetoric. In the primary campaign, Tinderholt railed against government spending, and signed a sworn statement pledging to never support tax increases. Let me be clear and honest, the Arlington bond is both. If we take him at his word, Tinderholt will vote NO.
I am for the bond because it balances current needs with an eye toward the future. I wish our buildings were not aging, but they are. I wish our current facilities could accommodate the growth in our student population, but they cannot. The bond proposal is a product of months of deliberation by a panel of citizens, educators, business leaders, parents and others who want Arlington schools to have what they need to produce great results. The package will give Arlington the kind of leading edge facilities that Mansfield, Keller, and other cities already have, while keeping our debt/student ratio below many neighboring districts. The school board trustees have been excellent stewards of taxpayer funds and this bond is large only because it is so long overdue. As an Arlington homeowner I support better schools, as they are one of the biggest drivers of property value.
Voting for controversial issues is hard for politicians, and impossible for those who pledge in writing their loyalty to special interest groups. I read the proposal carefully. I talked to the AISD superintendent, CFO and several school board trustees. I talked to my neighbors and other business owners. I weighed the impact of the tax against the benefits to our kids as well as the anticipated increase in home values. I thought about the kind of development we want to attract in Arlington and how our school facilities influence outside investment decisions. And I voted YES, because at the end of the day leading is not about signing pledges or empty words, it is about making decisions and being accountable.
Cole Ballweg
