Posted by KatieTeague on August 16, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Natalie Panossian, religious extremist, Central Committee member, Tom McClintock/Strickland loyalist, Gallegly paid campaign worker, held sneaky meetings to get rid of moderate Republican on Central Committee, Republican Federated Woman who knocked other Republican Federated Women, no kids, not married - she'll bring a lot to the Moorpark School Board.

Posted by elephantpower on August 16, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Natalie Panossian: Wonderful, kind, soft spoken, brilliant lawyer for a Fortune 500 company in Simi Valley. Patriot, JAG Army Reserve, graduate of Moorpark schools. They say, if you want a job done right, ask a busy person. Natalie has stepped up this year to start a new Federalist Society chapter in Oxnard that gives a forum for lawyers to practice debate techniques on Constitutional issues, and encourages young people to challenge themselves intellectually.

http://www.fed-soc.org/aboutus/

Ms. Panossian co-founded a political studies youth group in Thousand Oaks this summer, which meets weekly. She is also a youth mentor of the national Clair Boothe Luce Institute, which models good behavior and intellectual development for America's young women. As an example of drug free, healthy living--mentally, physically, and morally--what an asset she will be on the Moorpark School Board!

http://www.cblpi.org/

It is important, as said in the article, that school boards have a variety of backgrounds. Every Ventura County School Board would benefit from having legal expertise in an elected member, rather than old-fashioned board members who are retired (think "tired")teachers, who have no business experience nor legal training. Modern school trustees in this Ventura County are in charge of annual budgets often reaching over $200 million. Why do you think they are called trustees? Because WE vote to to entrust them with our tax money, to use it wisely to administer many, many programs and projects for adult workers, not just for students.

It is not "all about the kids". A school district spends the majority of its time on lawsuits, working conditions, and policies for ADULTS. Yes, most of the work they do is not on classroom policies. Teachers and principals are delegated to do that. The students come and go. The adult employees are often there for decades. Public school trustees interface almost exclusively with adults--parents, committees, government officials, union reps, and lawyers. Business negotiation experience is the most important skill set, not classroom experience. Remember that when you cast your votes in November for your public school board members, wherever you live in Ventura County.

Posted by elephantpower on August 16, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As to the comment about Ms Panossian's religion, I hope this is the LAST time we ever see such an attempt at a smear about a religiously observant candidate. The Orthodox Armenian Church is also the spiritual home for our very popular former Governor George "Duke" Deukmejian, 1983-1991. It certainly wasn't a political handicap for him. Likewise, I'm sure Moorpark voters will admire Ms Panossian's ethics and morals based on her Orthodox religious upbringing. How sad it is that good, moral people are targeted first in political attacks. Must be all that reality TV and prime time trash that some posters are evidently wasting their time with.

Posted by KatieTeague on August 16, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Did I say sneaky? I'm sure that just what Moorpark wants - a sneaky person.

Posted by fullosseousflap on August 17, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Katie stick to the issues and leave out the disparaging personal attacks.

VC Star Staff please remove her disparaging and degrading comments.

Posted by KatieTeague on August 17, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I did not personally attack - I spoke the truth. If I am wrong I will issue an retraction and an apology. Everything I said can be verified by two independent sources and/or by public documents.

If the shoe fits wear it but don't shoot the messenger.

Posted by laurarmc on August 17, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go Katie. Voters need to understand what a stealth candidate is. Is she bringing Ideology or new ideas? Partisanship or the ability to work with others?

And elephant man: it really is all about the kids. If you believe that it isn't, then I ma very glad you're not on a school board.

Posted by 2wheelsguy on August 17, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just can't wait til we have a chance to be done with Mike Dunn in Thousand Oaks. That clown caused two of the board members who did the most to make our schools great to not want to run. He's also picking fights with the teachers. It's time for this class clown to be shown the door, sooner rather than later.

Posted by fullosseousflap on August 18, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

KT,

You have degraded Natalie Panossian on the basis of her gender and/or sexual orientation.

By calling her sneaky you are disparaging her.

Now, the VC Star has a policy to not allow these type of comments.

And, you speaking the truth. Please.....

Posted by KatieTeague on August 18, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Look Flap, she's the one who held secret meetings. If she didn't want to be busted for it, she shouldn't have done it. Ask her about it. I think secret meetings are sneaky.

As I said earlier, every observation I made is a matter of public record, or can be second sourced. Believe me, she has disparaged herself many times on e-mails sent to many people.

I have no clue what her sexual orientation is nor do I care. You are the one who brought it up.

Posted by elephantpower on August 18, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gorgeous Natalie was dating a handsome MALE police officer, which should lay to rest any nosy questions about an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) agenda.

Just because a person doesn't have children yet does not make them incapable of caring about children. Think of all the nuns who have educated children through the centuries. Are you suggesting that Moorpark fire all the teachers who are childless? I hardly think that Moorpark citizens would insist that parenthood be a job requirement for all school administrators and teachers. Board members are elected for their financial savvy, their diplomacy, and their negotiating skills, not because of their marital status.

Posted by KatieTeague on August 18, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nuns typically don't get involved in partisan politics. And yes, fire teachers that bring politics into the classroom. And trustees that try to introduce creationalism into the science program.

Posted by lescornejo on August 19, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natalie is a very partisan Republican and my personal experience is that she can be obsessive and controlling. She decided once to target me and did everything she could to destroy my reputation a couple years back.
Would I want her in charge of my district or my children's education? - hardly.

Posted by koolwhazzup on August 23, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To 2wheels-

Your comments prove that you are totally unaware of the issues in CVUSD.
The 2 "great" Board members that you speak of have done nothing but drive CVUSD into mediocrity!! Thank goodness they are leaving-for sure they would be voted out!!
As far as Dunn goes, why are you so concerned about a "minority" board member? At least he polls parents and teachers about important issues!