Questions posed to all the candidates: Q7

What do you think on the following statements/comments?

SHPE cannot longer remain on the sidelines in the political arena. Washington is making a lot of decision that impact education and opportunities for Hispanics. I am really concerned with privatization of the public system. Charter schools are not any better than public and cost more to run. Engineering programs in public universities have been threatened to be closed. If in the future public system disappears, a lot of Latinos (Hispanics) will not be able to get out of the cycle of poverty, low pay, and unfair treatment.

SHPE will not remain on the sidelines of the political arena at the local, state, and national levels if I am elected SHPE president. At the national level, SHPE has already begun discussions with national political figures through AHETEMS and our current president, Diana Gomez. SHPE is at a critical point in these discussions and it is vital that we have a national president that can build on these relationships, has the full support of their company as I do, and will move forward in a direction that is best for the entire organization. If elected, I intend to maintain and fully utilize those contacts and even ask Diana if she has the time to continue in her efforts in order to maintain continuity. As SHPE National President I will do everything I can to ensure SHPE connects with our elected leaders at all levels and builds a mutually beneficial relationship that can be sustained for years to come.