When choosing three candidates from the field of four for the elected Gilroy Unified School District Board of Trustees positions, our mantra is simple: Don't mess with success.

Voters should absolutely return incumbents Rhoda Bress and Jamie Rosso. For the third slot, Mark Good is the most qualified choice. He is a former GUSD trustee, who, after completing his law degree and beginning a new career, is coming back for to reprise his four-year stint.

Here's how we see the November race:

Rhoda Bress yes

Ms. Bress has been committed for a very long time to improving Gilroy schools, first as a parent who steered and supported four boys through the public education system, then as a reform advocate as a member of the Academic Alliance focused on raising the bar at Gilroy High School and now as a four-year veteran GUSD Trustee. She has an uncanny ability to be direct without being confrontational. That quality serves her very well when advocating for change, and it's paired with a heart that's unfailingly in the right place - she wants what's best for Gilroy students. She's an organized board member who always does her homework. She's a bold campaigner who walks the talk - when there's a bond measure to be passed, she's on the community stump giving her all to tell voters why it's so important. Besides always keeping the students in mind, Ms. Bress, 57, is a firm believer in the power of a good teacher as a fundamental concept in any improvement strategy. She gets it that the classroom is critical. Yet she's recognizes that not all teachers are wonderful and that the teacher's union, unfortunately, can be a roadblock rather than a green light when it comes to change. Gilroy is fortunate to have such a highly respected and experienced trustee. She absolutely deserves another term.

Jamie Rosso yes

Mr. Rosso is a two-term incumbent and longtime Gilroy businessman who is aging well on the board. By that we mean his experience is serving him well as GUSD navigates through some very choppy waters when it comes to finances and facilities. His passion for education has been exhibited from the start, and that is now combined with the wisdom that comes from being exposed to different philosophies and various strategies over a number of years. It seems that he has a much better sense of what really works and is less inclined to be dogmatic. Mr. Rosso, 56, is a champion for equitable and outstanding facilities. He believes pride transfers from the edifice to the students and reverberates through the community. His support for the bond measure on the November ballot is unwavering. Mr. Rosso is a dedicated, experienced trustee who is a part of a team that has Gilroy's schools moving in the right direction. He should be re-elected.

Fred Tovar no

If enthusiasm were the lone qualification necessary, Fred Tovar would be our man. The 39-year-old director of student affairs, assistant director of admissions and pre-medical advisor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, clearly demonstrates a passion for education. That's why we'd like to see him continuing on the same path he's on before taking another crack at a GUSD board election. As the first in his family to graduate from college, he has a genuine perspective on what it takes to climb the mountain. He believes strongly that good mentors in education - people who believe in a student's potential and are willing to go the extra mile with encouragement - really make a difference. Mr. Tovar wants to be that person. He served one term on the San Jose/Evergreen College District Board, recently graduated from the Leadership Gilroy program and volunteered his time on the GUSD high school boundary committee. His two children attend school in San Jose near where his wife works. He says that "taking Gilroy students to the next level" is what he wants to do, but while his words are inspiring and clearly heartfelt the specifics are missing. Mr. Tovar should keep volunteering and honing his positions and beliefs. We hope to interview him again in the next election, but cannot endorse him at this time.

Mark Good yes

Mark Good, 50, has been there and done that. He stepped away from the GUSD Board after one term to study for the bar exam and begin a new career as an attorney. The former Gilroy police officer says he'll bring a sharp eye to the process of going over contracts. That's good, but it's his bulldogish approach to the budget that will be a refreshing voice on this board. Mr. Good is a cut-to-the-chase person who is not afraid to ask the tough questions or challenge the status quo. He's deeply concerned about the GUSD budget and the debt load the issuing of Certificates of Participation has put on the district. He's a big fan of Superintendent Debbie Flores who he calls a "straight talker," and has a similar enthusiasm for restoring the luster to career and technical training. In addition, Mr. Good vows to find a way to keep music programs alive. He believes that those programs are just as important as math and English. In shaping this board, Mr. Good is a good fit. Elect him.

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