Strength in numbers

Of course, the union does not have unbelievable powers. The reason

former school board member Wendy Leece lost is because she represents

a very small, extreme minority within the community. Most of us view

her as an obstructionist and someone who kept the schools from being

all they could be.

RHEA DORN

Costa Mesa

Definitely, the teachers’ union has too much power, which wouldn’t

be quite so bad if the students were their first priority. But it’s

clear that the students are not their first priority. That was a

great article.

DEANNA ROSS

Corona del Mar

I just wanted to say that on election day I voted for anybody but

Wendy Leece because I don’t and never did agree with a lot of her

ideas, and the teachers’ union had nothing to do with it. It was a

matter of Wendy Leece’s record as I perceived it.

PAT KRONE

Newport Beach

I’m a retired teacher from Redlands Unified School District. All I

have to say is, what gall does Wendy Leece have?

BECKY RICKER

Corona del Mar

I don’t feel they have too much power. As the teachers’ union,

they have the right to lobby and try to get candidates elected who

support teachers. I myself am a teacher in a different school

district and I can say that most teachers, including myself, want

good working conditions, good conditions of learning for our students

and we want school boards who are responsive to the needs of

education and not just trying to make political points with various

interest groups.

As far as Wendy Leece is concerned, I’m sick and tired of hearing

her whining about the fact that she lost the election. She was in

there for eight years, she had her views and they were kind of out of

the ballpark with most people. She had her chance and now she lost

the election; that’s the democratic process. There’s somebody new in

there. Give them a chance. If she wants to run in four years or

whenever the next election is that’s fine, but quit whining about it

and get on with your life.

LENARD DAVIS

Newport Beach

I do not believe that the Newport-Mesa Teachers’ Union has too

much power. I think they know what’s good for kids. They’re

representing the teachers of this district and they made a good

choice in the people that they wanted us all to vote for, and that’s

why Wendy Leece is no longer a member of that board.

BARBARA PRICE

Newport Beach

No, I don’t think the teacher’s union has too much power, but what

I do think is I am sick and tired of picking up the Pilot every

single day and reading about Wendy Leece. She’s gone. It’s over.

Right or wrong, it’s finished -- go on to something else, would you

please.

RENEE BARGER

Costa Mesa

The Newport-Mesa Teachers’ Union has far too much power. It is as

simple as this: before teachers’ unions, almost 90% of taxpayers tax

money for schools made it into the classroom. Today, only about 48%

does. These teachers unions have a monopoly and do not want to lose

it. Linda Mook says that during the campaign the union never said

anything against Wendy Leece. Excuse me. Maybe they didn’t need to.

Two board members, Dana Black and Martha Fluor, plus Mook, had

already attacked Wendy Leece at an earlier school board meeting. We

have it on tape. Mook says: “We may have misguided people (the

voters) into thinking there were board members grouped against

Leece.” Of course, there were and the union and Mook organized them.

Linda Mook, you have a lot to answer for. We plan to see that you do

it.

GEORGE GRUPE

Newport Beach

Of course it does. Didn’t you notice that most of those people on

the school board were backed by the union and that Judy Franco has

been in there for 20 years. I think they should consider term limits

for the school board.

I don’t see why any reason why one person should be there and make

that her lifelong job. Other people have good ideas. Why don’t they

get a chance? They don’t because the teachers union doesn’t want them

to.

JULIE VANCE

Newport Beach

I’m calling regarding the article “A Closer Look” on the front

page, no less, about Wendy Leece. What is she going to do, run for

Congress? I can’t understand why a paper that supposedly -- Who is

paying you, is this the owner that wants this person? She doesn’t

believe in political freedom, she doesn’t believe in intellectual

freedom.

I don’t understand why you would back her in the first place and,

secondly, I don’t understand why would put this on the front page.

EMILY TYGART

Costa Mesa

In response to the question, I would have to say that a teachers’

union -- like most unions -- is what the union’s members make of it.

If the teachers truly care about the issue that they are organizing

for, then they have the potential to make a difference in a powerful

way. This is a grass-roots kind of power -- and it is the heart and

soul of a democratic society. Way to go teachers. Way to flex your

political muscle.

JOEL FLORES

Santa Ana Heights