Thursday, April 30, 2009
Open Letter to Voters
This is the thing that stood out to me most when I first met Steve Navarre. We started out our conversation as things usually go. Then we got to talking about our political views since we were standing at the Collin County Republicans Men Club monthly meeting waiting for things to get started so we could listen to Mike Williams’ informative speech that he gave to us later that evening. Steve starts telling me about why he is running for Plano ISD School Board. He is fired-up about bringing accountability to the Board of Trustees. He and I talked about how most folks don’t even realize how much of their tax money actually goes to the ISD. It is staggering if you think about it. He talked to me about trimming Bond spending to just include things that needed to be financed for long-term use such as new buildings and not things like new paint jobs or computers that will be outdated next year. He was passionate about being involved in deciding how a District that his children will attend for years to come will be run. It bothered him deeply that there was a true lack of fiscal conservatism. “This is OUR money being spent” he told me. He was excited about his plan to bring new technology trades to area schools that had been classified by many local residents as below the standard that Plano area citizens deserved and longed for. By the time we were done talking, I wanted to vote for him and I don’t even live in his District.
It was refreshing to meet someone as passionate about doing what is right for the citizens instead of what will serve to further his personal political career as I am. It was also great to meet an individual that has no fear to be the lone voice of reasoning in a society that has grown accustom to going with the flow instead of against the grain if necessary to do what is right. So, although our conversation was short it was insightful. All this and he was only a candidate. Then I traveled to Collin County Days in Austin and our paths crossed again. I got to see how he was taking his message straight to our Legislators. I thought, surely not right? He is ONLY A CANDIDATE RIGHT NOW. That didn’t faze Navarre. After traveling to Austin of his own accord to represent our County, he was not going to waste an opportunity to get his message out to anyone that would listen. I was fascinated.
This type of conviction and passion for doing what needs to be done in these tough economic times are two of the many reasons that I support Steve Navarre in his run for Plano ISD Trustee. Vote early and take all your friends with you. Don’t give up. Steve isn’t.
Wylie City Councilman David Goss
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sprinting to the Finish Line
Early voting has started and the numbers are promising for a record turnout this election. In 2 days of voting that have been reported, over 1200 voters have cast their votes. While my opponents have stopped campaigning, I will not stop until 6:59pm on May 9th. There are still 10 days left till Election Day. We are sprinting to the finish line and I ask for your continued help if we are to win this election.
I still need help with the following:
· Making phone calls to voters. I have lists of high priority voters broke into 100 named voters and a script for those interested.
· Walking neighborhoods. I will be walking neighborhoods every weekday evening between 5:30 and 8:30, this Saturday from 9:00am to 8:30pm this Sunday 1:00pm – 8:30pm
· Making sure everyone you know has a yard sign. We dropped out 30 signs yesterday alone. If the storms have damaged them, we will replace it.
· Emailing everyone you know from your family and friends to your church group to get out the vote.
· Poll greeters. On Election Day, some people will be going to vote for city council but might not have followed the school board race. One person at the poll with a sign and a smile could make the difference.
· Make sure you and your family vote.
With your help, we can win this election.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Another Great Weekend Talking to Voters
I had to share some of the highlights with you.
Friday, April 24, 2009
A True Fiscal Conservative
Many of you have already received a mailer from that candidate and proudly printed on the mailer is that he is a fiscal conservative. Maybe establishment candidates have a different definition of "fiscal conservative" but to the real world, that is not someone that wants to raise your taxes. We have plenty of wasteful spending that the school district can cut if we are talking about "1 or 2 pennies"
In these challenging economic times, good, hard working people cannot be squeezed from all sides by higher taxes from federal, state and local governments. There has never been a time more wrong to raise property taxes. I promise to never vote to raise your taxes!
You deserve the leadership on the Plano ISD board that understands what fiscal conservative means. You want real business experience on our school board to stop wasteful spending. You need a candidate that isn’t scared to stand up for the hard working people of this district and say NO to new taxes.
Tell the establishment that they need to learn what a real “fiscal conservative” candidate means by voting for the only conservative candidate running in this year’s election. Vote for Steve Navarre!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dallas Morning News Voters Guide
League of Women Voters of Plano - Voters Guide
http://www.lwvcollin.org/

Never in Plano Schools!
This can never happen in Plano schools!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Repost - Solutions – How 21st Century Skills Leads to 21st Century Jobs

Steve Navarre releases his vision of how to prepare Plano ISD schools and students for the 21st century by providing a 21st century education that creates 21st century jobs.
Building on the lead of State Senator Florence Shapiro through her Senate bills 1312 and 1313, Steve believes that Plano ISD can create an environment that promotes technology education that leads to high paying jobs.
If passed, SB 1313 will reward the development of high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs while SB 1312 creates a pilot program at the community college level aimed at targeting high school dropouts and those needing developmental educations. CTE offerings range from auto mechanics to biotechnology, computer assisted drafting and countless other offerings. Steve’s plan targets those CTE that create high paying technology jobs.
As the new 9th -10th grade high school in Murphy opens, the high school boundaries will be redrawn leaving Williams High School with a lower student population in the most economically disadvantaged area of Plano. To ensure that Williams High School is fully utilized and that the bad reputation of Williams from the late 1990s does not return, Steve believes that Plano needs a Magnet style technology high school that serves 2 distinct functions:
1. Provides a technology based Distinguished Achievement Program education for 4-year college bound math, science and engineering students.
2. Vocational training and certificate programs for technical jobs for student entering the workforce after high school graduation.
Williams High School would remain the home school for those within the Williams boundary for 9th and 10th grade but also be the home for the new Williams Tech High that would be open to any student in the district through an application process much like the Magnet schools of Houston and Dallas.
Steve was accepted and attended Booker T Washington High School and the High School for the Engineering Professions his freshman year of high school while living in inner city Houston before moving. The educational foundation he received at Booker T Washington started him down the path that led Steve to be the recipient of the Texas A&M President’s Achievement Scholarship. Steve studied Nuclear Engineering while at Texas A&M.
Steve believes that learning from, and perhaps modeling after, the New Tech High of Coppell ISD would teach education and business leaders how to make the new Williams Tech High successful. Steve has arranged the opportunity for small groups of Plano parents and leaders to take a tour of Coppell’s New Tech High over the coming weeks. If you are interested, please contact Steve at 469-878-8923 or through email at steve@idvote4steve.org.
In addition, a partnership with Collin College fully utilizes the strengths of SB1312 to make sure that each Plano child has the opportunity to not only graduate, but have high paying skills when they do.
To pay for this new program without raising taxes, Steve recommends creating the Plano ISD Technology Foundation, a nonprofit group independent of the PISD to work with to corporations to provide equipment and software. The new Plano ISD Technology Foundation would also work closely with other foundations for securing grant money for the school. In addition, Texas Education Agency has a grant funding for expanding technology and CTE programs in schools that PISD can apply for.
Lastly, Steve recommends that Williams Tech High School students in the 4 year college program include summer internships and job shadowing in 11th and 12th grades. For those not bound for college, Williams Tech High would work with job placement firms to provide jobs for graduating seniors so that they may enter the workforce as productive adults.
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Real Leadership Training Makes Real Leaders

The picture above is of my good friends from my Army unit and my brother Joe back in early spring of 1991. As a combat engineer, I was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, Echo Company, 111th Engineering, 49th Armored Division.
Although I feel like my accomplishments were minor compared to my grandfather’s service in WWII, I served my country with honor.
I believe that it is important that we have real leadership on our school board. The US military provides the hardest leadership training course available. Nothing else compares. I am the only Plano school board candidate running this year with the commitment to my country to serve in the US military and leadership experience that comes from that training.
“A country and government such as ours are worth fighting for, and dying for, if need be.” - General W. T. Sherman
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Saturday, April 18, 2009
We Did It! The True Power of Parents!
“Officials have abruptly halted a committee whose mission was to look at grading and other middle school practices in the Plano Independent School District.
In response to the closing of the committee the district released a statement.
“The middle school committee on grading and assessment has concluded its work this spring. Committee discussions will resume next fall and will be inclusive in seeking input from teachers and parents. The feedback from these groups is integral in the district’s work to improve student achievement and to maintain its quality educational program,” the district wrote. “Plano school officials have temporarily shut down a district committee that was exploring a grading policy proposal for middle schoolers that would have discontinued docking grades for cheating or late assignments.””
As a candidate and a parent, I have been the most vocal of the Place 6 candidates to work with parents and teachers to make sure these un-American policies were not enacted in our Middle Schools. From the beginning, I have challenged the Goliath that is the Plano ISD school district on this policy and with your help and the help of several other parents we have won the battle. But we have not won the war! This may be a ploy to remove this topic as a campaign issue. Like promising not to raise property taxes if the 2008 bond election was passed and then raising taxes less than a month later, this too can come back up in June if the establishment candidate is elected in Place 6. If we are going to continue to keep this and other bad ideas out of our schools then we need to make sure we elect the candidate with the strength and courage to take on the system when it goes against our values and principles.
Vote for Steve Navarre! Vote for Steve on May 9th!
Below are my blogs and calls to action around this policy:
Plano Academic Accountability: http://blogs.idvote4steve.org/2009/04/repost-plano-academic-accountability.html
Just Say No: http://blogs.idvote4steve.org/2009/04/just-say-no.html
Real Power of Parents: http://blogs.idvote4steve.org/2009/04/real-power-of-parents-and-tea-parties.html
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Values and Principles in Politics
At 13 years old I was honored to meet President Reagan in the Oval office with my mom, my younger brother Joe and the actress Victoria Principle. My brother was the National Poster Child for the Arthritis Foundation that year and we were invited to the Washington for a week and the White House for the day. This was an amazing experience for a middle school age boy from inner city Houston. I will never forget my time in Washington or the time I met President Ronald Reagan.
It was that moment in the Oval Office standing in front of President Reagan that I knew I was a real conservative. It really is something you feel in your heart, not just in your head.
Before that day in the White House, my grandfather was already a big influence in my political life. He was clear in telling me how he felt and what he believed in. His values were very much conservative and his favorite person was President Reagan. Interesting thing is that he called himself a Democrat. His conservative values help shape my values. Both President Reagan and my grandfather believed that government was the problem, not the solution. I share those conservative values.
I’m tired of politicians that have no values and no principles. Those politicians tell people anything they want to hear so that the politicians can get elected. They blow like the trees in the wind, bending and bowing from side to side. Their only agenda is to get elected and stay elected at all cost. I see it almost every day while I challenge the establishment in my campaign. That is not who I am.
There are people that might not like my values or my principles but they will never accuse me of not having any. The promises I make are the promises I keep.
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Values and Principles - the 9-12 Project

At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles. These principles were culled from all over the world and from centuries of great thinkers. We have distilled the original 28 down to the 9 basic principles. (http://www.912project.com/)
I strongly agree with these values and principles. These should be taught in every school to every student, and not as a history lesson.
9 Principles
1. America Is Good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
God “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
Honesty “I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government. Marriage/Family “It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it. Justice “I deem one of the essential principles of our government… equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. Charity “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion. On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me. Who works for whom? “I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson
12 Values
- Honesty
- Reverence
- Hope
- Thrift
- Humility
- Charity
- Sincerity
- Moderation
- Hard Work
- Courage
- Personal Responsibility
- Gratitude
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
The Real Power of Parents and the TEA Parties
As a parent with children currently in Plano schools, I truly believe in the power of the parents. But I can sum up the power of parents in one word: VOTE!
If you want to change school financing then VOTE!
If you want to change 4x4 then VOTE!
If you don’t want your property taxes raised then VOTE!
Voting is the true power of parents. If parents stand together and vote together then they are unstoppable. When school board members, state representatives, or Congress members stop acting in your best interest and no longer represent your values and principles you have to vote for someone who does if you really want things to change. In Plano we elect school board members with less that 7,000 votes out of 169,000 registered voters.
And we wonder why they raise our property taxes just weeks after voters approved the last bond.
This brings me to the reason that I will be at a TEA Party tonight. While we focus on national politics, local school districts take 65 % of our property taxes and they continue to ask for more. If we are ever going to clean up the waste in Washington and in Austin, we have to clean out own house first.
Plano ISD school board members and executive administrators actively lobby Austin for the power to raise taxes without voter approval. That is un-American! And what is worse is that they use tax payer money to make those trips to Austin to lobby to raise our taxes.
I know everyone in Plano feels like we are Taxed Enough Already. We don't want our property taxes raised!
I promise these 2 things if elected:
1. I will always vote against raising your taxes.
2. I will not use tax payer money to take trips to Austin to lobby against taxpayers.
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Friday, April 10, 2009
Just Say No!
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa090408_wz_planograding.b4c30aec.html
Thursday night, at the Plano Homeowners Council Candidate Forum, I offered a way for the school district and school board to end the controversy surrounding the district's proposed changes to middle school grading and cheating policies. I call it the “Just Say No” plan. School district officials and school board members need to “Just Say No!” They need to stand up for parents and teachers as I have and promise that policy changes that are so far removed from American core values will never make it to a vote in a school board meeting. They need to stop the nonsense of watering down education and standards. They have the power to prevent this if they really want to exercise it.
“Just Say No” is so simple that most politicians can’t grasp the idea. They would rather continue to spin answers to the press and parents, but their answers are less sincere with each passing day. I am running for Place 6 in this May’s election because I feel a calling do provide voters with a candidate who is a parent and an honest, hard working American. I am not the politician my “establishment” opponent is. If you think he will act against the current establishment that supports him on any issue if he is elected, then I have some Plano beach front property to sell you. At least my other 2 opponents openly tell the public they are in favor of proposed homework changes.
http://www.planostar.com/articles/2009/04/01/plano_star-courier/news/902.txt
If you want to make certain policies that take accountability out of education don’t quietly slip into place after the election you have two things you must do:
1. Contact all of the officials and school board members below via email and phone and tell them to “Just Say No.” If a school board member won’t “Just Say No” to these changes, they need to be removed from office when they are up for re-election.
2. Vote for the parent with the leadership to stand up for American values. Vote for Steve Navarre May 9th.
Karla Oliver
Executive Director, Government and Community Relations
(469) 752-8150
karla.oliver@pisd.edu
Dr. Douglas Otto
Superintendent
(469) 752-8122
doug.otto@pisd.edu
Duncan Webb
Place 1
(469) 752-8284
duncan.webb@pisd.edu
Mary Beth King
Place 2
(469) 752-8278
marybeth.king@pisd.edu
John Muns
Place 3
(469) 752-8917
john.muns@pisd.edu
Brad Shanklin
Vice-president - Place 4
(469) 752-8993
brad.shanklin@pisd.edu
Lloyd "Skip" Jenkins
President - Place 5
(469) 752-8282
lloyd.jenkins@pisd.edu
Melody Timinsky
Place 6
(469) 752-8283
melody.timinsky@pisd.edu
Missy Bender
Secretary - Place 7
(469) 752-8264
missy.bender@pisd.edu
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Easter
Easter is an important time to me and my family and in reverence to the Easter holiday I will not be campaigning on Good Friday or Easter Sunday.
In this time of economic instability and uncertainty, more and more people are finding it harder to put food on the table. I understand how that can be. I grew up, what people like to call “economically disadvantaged.” The truth is we called it poor. I worked hard my to make a better life for me and my children and God has blessed me.
It is easy to give at Christmas and at Thanksgiving when everyone is in the Christmas spirit but Easter is my time to give back. I encourage all my campaign supporters to do the same. Contact God Food Pantry right here in Plano and donate tomorrow and Friday. Help give someone an Easter Sunday that they might not have otherwise without our support. Share the blessings God has given you with a family in need. I will be sharing my blessings this Easter.
http://www.godsfoodpantry.com/Needs.htm
Matthew 25:31-46
Repost - Plano Academic Accountability?
Cheating? No Homework? No Problem In Plano ISD
http://cbs11tv.com/local/Plano.Plano.ISD.2.958054.html
“According to several Plano Independent School District teachers, they have been informed that beginning next school year, homework will no longer be required for middle school students. And the grades for homework assignments that are assigned will not apply to students' report card grades...
Teachers say there are also some proposed changes concerning cheating, or as the district refers to it, "academic dishonesty." If a middle school student is caught cheating, he or she would be allowed to redo the assignment or complete an alternate assignment. Currently, students caught cheating in the Plano ISD are given a grade of zero on that assignment.”
Although I didn’t see the original airing on CBS last week, a concerned parent approached me with this story at a candidate forum on Tuesday. In disbelief, I promised to look into the matter. The story aired again yesterday morning on Fox 4 while I was traveling to a client in Oklahoma City. As early as 7:00 am, I started receiving calls, text messages and emails from several upset parents.
I have been told by a school district official that I trust that this came about as an open discussion of ideas and options and the recommendation for this type of homework - grading policy shift has not made it to the executive staff or the school board. Regardless, I want to make it very clear to parents, teachers, and taxpayers that I DO NOT support any of the reported changes in homework and grading policies.
Homework is an important aspect of real life learning. Removing homework removes the ability for students to think outside the classroom. How can that be a good change? There is a life of learning outside the classroom and homework reflects that.
The proposed changes concerning cheating trouble me the most. In a society when the head of the IRS openly cheated on his taxes, Plano ISD needs to be extra diligent about encouraging the growth of student character with values and principles. Through a value system that focuses on hard work and integrity, we may once again live to see an America where corporate failure is not rewarded with taxpayer bailouts.
Like everyone, I hear a lot of talk about teaching for the 21st century. My vision of is that as we teach students for 21st century jobs that we don’t forget the American values that brought us this far; hard work, honor, integrity and responsibility.
“The Executive Director for Government and Community Relations for the Plano Independent School District issued the following statement: "The Plano ISD middle school grading and assessment committee began the study of grading and assessment practices at the middle school level in September 2007. The objective of their work was to insure that grading practices are consistent with the philosophy that grades should be our most accurate reflection of student knowledge and achievement. These findings are being considered in the district's administrative review process."
I am very much in favor of an open exchange of ideas but I have to ask why have we used tax payer dollars to fund a committee for a year and a half that is recommending a shift that clearly doesn’t support the values of teachers and parents. With a $17+ million deficit is the best use of district resources and time? Not only does this lack academic accountability, it is fiscally irresponsible. Plano ISD needs a change. It's time for new leadership. Vote for Steve Navarre May 9th.
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre
Monday, April 6, 2009
“Take Back Our Schools 2009” Concert and Rally
The first annual “Take Back Our Schools 2009” Concert and Rally at Love and War in Texas on Saturday night was a great success. Supporters, teachers and parents gathered together to enjoyed the beautiful evening weather and the great music of Randy Hopper. Through my life, I have found that sometimes the relaxed approach is the best way to get people talking about what they want and what they need done. It is no different when talking about our schools. I’ve heard loud and clear that it all comes down to accountability, communication and transparency. Parents and teachers want more of each of those areas in our school district.
Everyone has been ready for my positive message of change and new ideas for making our schools what we have all come to expect. Parents want ideas like Williams Tech High to slow our dropout rate and prepare our children for high paying 21st century jobs. Teachers want ideas like outsourcing human resources, not only to reduce school district cost but to remove the politics from the hiring practices in our district. People want real solutions, not empty talk or promises.
Teachers also want someone with leadership to help balance the budget without laying-off teachers. Parents want someone that has the leadership to balance the budget without increasing classroom sizes. Everyone wants leadership that will balance the budget without raising taxes. People want that leadership and business experience that is currently lacking on the current school board.
For 10 years, I have brought that leadership, experience, new ideas and real solutions to companies around the world. Now is the time that we bring that leadership to the Plano ISD school board. Vote for leadership and experience that brings a positive change to our schools. Vote for Steve Navarre on May 9th.
I want to thank Ty and Tory at Love and War in Texas, for supporting my campaign and allowing me to bring parents and teachers together on a beautiful spring night to listen to local music. I want to thank Randy Hopper for providing his legendary music for my event. All three guys are hardworking, honest people that I am thankful to know.
For those that did not make it out to the concert, we still have a few shirts left that we will be giving away to those that donate to the campaign (that way you can have a little bit of history). Send me an email if you are interested in a shirt.
Busy weekend

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Website Success and Campaign Update
The IdVote4Steve.org site is a stunning success! The site has been up for less than a month now and the numbers are incredible for a local school board election. Over 3,000 visitors in March have come out to the site to see our message. That is half the number of votes cast in last year’s school board election. The Internet Age has is here.
We have momentum going into April. Grassroots efforts to get the message out are working and our supporters continue to grow each day. Check the events page on the site each day as new businesses signup on to host events. The next big event is “Take Back Our Schools 2009” concert and rally Saturday night at Love and War in Texas.
And even though things look good right now we can’t let up yet. We have to continue to get the vote out. We have to get out and VOTE. Your vote will count in this election!
Early voting starts April 27th and May 9th is Election Day.
Thank you for the support.
I have a goal to get my last 200 yard signs out in the next week. Tell your friends they need a sign!
Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre