A number of mayoral candidates, most notably Tom Leppert and Gary Griffith, have decided that the mayor can do something to improve the DISD. We’ll ignore the obvious rejoinder — if the city can’t do something as simple as distribute recycling bins, how can the mayor help kids learn? — to remind the candidates of a couple of points.
First, the DISD is run by an elected board. Which the mayor has no influence over at all. Period. I assume Leppert is unaware of this since he lived somewhere else until a couple of years ago. I can’t speak as to why the others have jumped on this bandwagon, unless their polling and focus groups said they could use it to confuse voters.
Second, there are plenty of other issues the candidates can address, without trying to find a made-up one. If I may be so bold, I suggest they read my column in this month’s magazine. I realize that discussing water conservation is not going to get them on the TV news, but that is something the new mayor can affect.
