LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION:

Impressed by student founder, Berkley donates to microbank

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 | 2 a.m.

3rd Congressional District race

Count Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., among the first donors to the Meadows School MicroBank, created by students to fight poverty in developing countries.

Justin Blau, a junior at the Las Vegas private school and the bank’s founder, served last summer as Berkley’s congressional page. When he told Berkley he was planning to start a microbank, she was impressed by his initiative.

She said she wasn’t surprised that 70 of Blau’s classmates have signed on to the project.

“There are thousands of children in this community who have a social conscience beyond their own nation,” Berkley said. “We’re either all going to rise, or we’re all going to sink together.”

Microloans are often for a few hundred dollars, enabling individuals to purchase equipment and supplies to start a small business. The loans are typically too small to be profitable for financial institutions.

The Meadows School MicroBank’s first-year fundraising goal of $25,000 is nearly met. The four-year goal is $100,000.

“He’s going to continue to inspire people as he has inspired me,” Berkley said of Blau. “We may be looking at budding secretary of state.”

•••

Automated phone calls on behalf of Clark County School Board candidate Chris Garvey are causing some confusion among District B residents.

The voice on the message is that of none other than Ruth Johnson, who has held the District B seat since 1996. A Nevada Supreme Court ruling on term limits forced her off the ballot.

When the phone rings, the caller is identified on caller ID as “Clark County Ed,” which some people mistakenly believe is shorthand for Clark County education, or the School District.

In fact, it’s the Clark County Education Association, otherwise known as the teachers’ union, which has endorsed Garvey.

Johnson endorsed Garvey, and agreed to the teachers union’s request to record a robo-call. Garvey faces middle school teacher Ron Taylor.

This is the first time in recent memory that a sitting School Board member has campaigned on behalf of a former opponent. In 2006, when Susan Brager left the School Board to run for the Clark County Commission, she did not make an endorsement.

Johnson said she doesn’t see any conflict of interest in a School Board member making campaign calls paid for by the teachers union.

“They gave me their endorsement early on, and then they endorsed Chris,” Johnson said. “It’s not like I benefit from this in any way.”

Nevada’s code of conduct for public officials is “very specific,” said Patricia Cafferata, executive director the state Ethics Commission. For there to a be a violation, a public officer would have to be benefiting personally, getting something to which he is not legally entitled or using taxpayer dollars, said Cafferata, who did not specifically address the robo-calls.

•••

In the contest between incumbent Jon Porter and Dina Titus for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, both candidates tout their long commitment to public education.

Porter’s Web site points to his work on both the national and local level, including helping the Clark County School District secure funding to build 101 schools.

That’s true, district officials say. While serving in the state Senate, Porter pushed for legislation that guaranteed the district a share of the hotel room tax and the real estate transfer tax. (Chris Giunchigliani, now on the County Commission, worked hard on the Assembly side, district officials say.)

As for Titus, during her 20 years in the state Senate she has consistently fought on behalf of public schools, officials said. She pushed to keep class size limits in place for lower grades, sponsored legislation to fund full-day kindergarten and last year authored a successful bill to block sex offenders from living near schools.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By nvcitizen55

10/31/08 at 9:55 a.m.

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Before you vote, go to www.therealrontaylor.com to know the truth.
By CCSDTeacher

11/1/08 at 9:04 a.m.

Suggest removal

The link provided by "nvcitizen55" is something that Garvey's campaign manager, Gary Gray, has slimed together. We all know the kind of person he is, and as such we know the kind of person Garvey is. So if you want to know about the "real" Ron Taylor, you need to visit this site -- http://www.teachers4change.net/news.htm

Garvey will be a pawn to the teachers' association. Ruth Johnson is, and as as a result we can see the problem with this school district and the board of Trustees. Don't make the same mistake -- again. Vote for RON TAYLOR.
By CCSDTeacher

11/1/08 at 9:10 a.m.

Suggest removal

BTW - Here is another link regarding Gary Gray, Chris Garvey's illustrious campaign manager. He has maligned Mr. Taylor's service in Vietnam. This is uncalled for. Read this article and the comments on this page before you make the mistake of voting for Garvey.

http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles...
By therealron

11/1/08 at 9:13 a.m.

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If you want to know who the real ron taylor is try talking to him and visiting his web site where all these lies are dealt with. The current CityLife Magazine has even published who the real ron taylor is. garvey has spent $57,000 to win a school board seat. She paid $33,000 to her campaign manager who is under investigation by the FBI. So will she look out for your children or her special interest friends? Call me if you have questions 656-4460. I am the only full time trustee and voice for change.
By teacher

11/1/08 at 9:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

I hope some of you in B are paying attention and letting any friends, neighbors, and colleagues in B how scummy the Garvey camp is.

At least the local papers seem to be starting to understand what's happening. Though they're supposed to represent journalism, these outlets seem to pay "journalists" to be mouthpieces who call and ask for a quote, and then print it, instead of finding out what's happening below the surface. But now they're no longer able to ignore what's going on in the fifth largest district in the country.

Taylor's integrity has pushed his opponents into activities such as this robo call, and picketing in front of his school, and putting up a libelous web site with no source. They are scum. They are what makes people bitter when they think of politics. People like them are a major problems source of cynicism, disgust, and bitterness in our society, making life unnecessarily difficult for others because they are greedy, selfish, and/or power hungry.

Fortunately, B has an alternative in a man who is willing to risk his comfort to take these people on. Please vote for him.

regarding:

"They gave me their endorsement early on, and then they endorsed Chris," Johnson said. "It's not like I benefit from this in any way."

Nevada's code of conduct for public officials is "very specific," said Patricia Cafferata, executive director the state Ethics Commission. For there to a be a violation, a public officer would have to be benefiting personally, getting something to which he is not legally entitled or using taxpayer dollars, said Cafferata, who did not specifically address the robo-calls."

I hope the Nevada Ethics Commission plans to follow up on the board if - God forbid - this woman wins. Ruth Johnson will be running her, obviously. She'll be sure to tell Garvey how to vote on contracts for people with whom she's associated, and so on.

GO RON TAYLOR!
By bruno

11/1/08 at 10:36 a.m.

Suggest removal

citizen55, the truth? You want the truth?

Garvey is nothing more than Johnsons neighbor and personal hand puppett, not an original thought of her own in her head. With her hand up Garveys backside Johnson will be able to keep her fingers involved in the doling out all those wasteful contracts the Board of Trustees constantly is awarding to "campaign supporters."

Why are people such as Tom Collins, The CCEA, and Ruth Johnson so interested in putting Garvey on the board? They want someone there who is going to keep out of "their business" and believe me it is their busine$$!!
By GuestOfUKTLV

11/1/08 at 12:03 p.m.

Suggest removal

For the real truth go to http://therealrontaylor.org

Ron Taylor is the only candidate with enough knowledge and perserverance to help turn CCSD around. I don't think we need another school board that will sit around and pat each other on the back for helping to make Nevada 48th in education in the USA. And, I don't think we need another school board that accepts big, fat raises while students go without basic supplies.

Vote to improve public education. Vote for Ron Taylor.