Jorgensen no educator
Letters to the editor for the week of June 12
06/12/2008
Marta Jorgensen - Educator? I think not.
he June 3 election upset was interesting. How is it that Democrats of the 24th district voted to nominate Marta
Jorgensen?
Jorgensen withdrew from the race and then jumped back in two weeks before the election. She clearly has no money to run against an incumbent with a million dollar campaign fund, and hasn’t appeared to make an effort in gathering donations from the community. She has NO government experience, no committee experience, no community service to point to that is verifiable, nor policies that she has endorsed to speak of. She was a no show at any of the candidate forums, didn’t debate, and made no effort to display her views to the 24th district.
Either Elton Gallegly participated in some very questionable practices to ensure an easy re-election, OR voters chose simply based on “educator” being listed on the voter ballot in absence of any information about what candidates stand for. As far as Jorgensen being an educator, one can easily input her name on the California Commission on Teacher Credentials, the agency that oversees all California teachers, to find that she is not a credentialed teacher.
Every certified school teacher must hold to a certain standard and pass vigorous education benchmarks to hold a credential to teach. In checking the California Nurses Registry, Jorgensen is not listed as a nurse either.
How sad. This was certainly our year in the 24th district. It is a shame that voters don’t take the future of our children and district more seriously and educate themselves.
Jorgensen withdrew from the 24th district race previously because, as she stated in a Paul Berenson interview (May 3, top of the second hour), she ran out of money. Will she again withdraw once up against Elton Gallegly, because she is out of funds?
But then again, perhaps the Democratic and Republican candidates are appropriately matched.
Karen Stevens,
Educator,
Thousand Oaks
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I have been married to a college professor who has taught for more than 39 years. He is a member of the AFT. I am sorry, but having a credential is not the only way to educate.
Marta Jorgensen was running a private computer school in Solvang when I met her last year. This is how she derived her income. I think if you teach computer skills for a living, that qualifies you as a teacher or educator. Or are you not aware of computer technology and the needs of those who do not have those skills versus those that have them. Again, the haves versus the have nots.
If people give Marta a chance, if they give her the financial support that she needs, she will go far. Look how far she has gotten on a shoe string budget.
Marta spent much of last year trying to get Al Gore to run for President this year. She met a lot of people while she organized at least 4 Congressional Districts in her role as the Regional Coordinator.
Instead of looking for proof that she is not who she says that she is, please try to focus on the big picture. Marta Jorgensen won the Democratic Nomination because enough people took the time to come out to meet her. Enough grass roots supporters of Marta's got out the vote for her.
Marta has friends and supporters through out the state and through out the United States because of her role in the Draft Gore movement. If that does not tell you how committed she is to integrity and the environment, then I don't know what will.