Saam I Aam.
I love this anecdote:
At Saam Alakhani’s final Board meeting as the “student trustee,” after months of unproductively but stubbornly communicating the interests of students, parents, and taxpayers, he culminated his farewell speech with an announcement that he would now be joining the “Children First” Coalition and running to replace the Board. Dutifully jazzed by the spectacle of such an accomplished and handsome young man giving his valedictory, the Board rose and applauded. ONLY Ken “Lopez-Maddox” (credit where due) seemed to actually hear what Saam had said. “Did you guys hear that?” he hissed at his colleagues. “He’s running against us!”
It’s funny because it’s true.
So here I am, at Dana Hills High School watching Saam this sunny Tuesday morning, and he’s now the 4th out of 5 candidates to announce from the Capistrano Unified Children First slate. So far we’ve got two Democrats, two Republicans and an independent. In stark contrast to the current screwup board, everyone has kids in the district, EXCEPT – what nobody was expecting – the one guy who actually IS a kid in the district. And who’s probably smarter than all these current place-holders put together. Okay, here’s Saam’s speech:
Good morning and thanks to each of you for joining me here this morning at my alma mater, Dana Hills High School.
My name is Saam Alikhani and I am extremely honored to announce my candidacy for the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees for Area 4.
I’m sure you are asking, “Why would I vote for such a young person? What could he possibly bring to this dysfunctional table that is the CUSD school board?”
I am proud to tell you what I will bring to this table.
I have served as the Student Trustee on the current board for the past school year. I have sat on the dais and have closely observed inappropriate behavior and poor decision making.
School boards are supposed to be non-partisan. For the past two election cycles, our school board has been influenced by party politics and outside money. To underscore my firm belief in keeping politics out of the board room, I have registered to vote as Decline to State. My allegiance is to my constituents and not to special political interests in Orange County.
I will work to restore trust and respect between my fellow board members and the community. I have witnessed blatant disregard of the public by the current trustees during board meetings. They even have disrespected me, and on occasion – each other! This is not acceptable behavior from your elected trustees.
I support the ballot measure to change the way we elect trustees to the by-trustee voting method. Current board members said they supported this, too. But I have actually voted to support this change because this will save our district over one million dollars in the next 10 years alone! The current Board voted to spend over $100,000 of our money on attorneys to fight this reform. I warned the Board that hiring Mr. Greer was a bad decision. I researched him and I recommended against hiring him. The rest of the Board did not listen to me.
The budget crisis for public education is not over. CUSD cannot afford to waste more than $100,000 on attorney fees or another $100,000 from our general fund on out-of-court settlements to friends of the Board when our students do not have paper in their classrooms, or have to sit in crowded classrooms because teachers have been cut, or have no counselor to visit when they are struggling.
I know what is important for students and their classrooms. I know what parents and community members expect from their trustees. We cannot let Capistrano Unified fall apart.
As an elected Trustee, I promise you my every effort:
- To keep outside interests and partisan politics at bay, so not to adversely impact taxpayers or students.
- To do everything possible to ensure that academic achievement and quality of education at this award winning district remains at a high level.
- To be fiscally responsible at all times especially in these economically challenging times and to make sure that students have the opportunity to reach their potential.
- To work with all stakeholders to make Capistrano Unified a district in which everyone will benefit, not the few elite.
- To make all of us proud to be a part of Capistrano Unified.
I am a recognized leader in my community. I have more school board experience than most first time trustees. I will represent you all far better than Anna Bryson or any other current trustee.
This is what I want to do with my life. I am willing to put in the time and effort to work for you. I know that I have the courage, the passion and the dedication to do this for you.
It is time to take our district back and to remove those who represent outside interests. As trustee, I will restore the reputation and excellence that Capistrano Unified had before this board came into power.
I am not in this alone. I want to thank my mother, father, sister, etc. for their love and guidance. They have encouraged me to follow my dreams.
I also want to thank Capistrano Unified Children First for their support. I look forward to working with John, Gary and Lynn during the campaign and when we become your trustees.
I firmly believe that I can help CUSD recover. I need your help to do it.
Thank you for coming today and please vote for me, Saam Alikhani for CUSD, on November 2nd
(press release:
Saam Alikhani is a lifelong stakeholder in the Capistrano Unified community. In his Senior year at Dana Hills High School, Saam was selected as the Dolphin of the Year and was appointed by the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees to serve as the Student Trustee, representing with distinction taxpayers, homeowners, parents, and students within Capistrano Unified.
Saam has advocated for Capistrano Unified before multiple state officials and legislators in Sacramento for more education funding and to emphasize the importance of public education. Saam’s unique perspective will ensure that the Board of Trustees will act in the best interest of public education and will conduct itself in a fiscally responsible manner.
Mr. Alikhani has pledged to help eliminate the wasteful spending, oppose votes that might benefit friends or associates of any member of the Board of Trustees and work diligently to help rebuild trust and cooperation among all parties within the CUSD community.)
Saam-I-Aam’s speech does read a little like “Green Eggs and Ham.”
What it lacks in style it gains in trashing Phil Greer.
Smart kid.
(He’s toast.)
Did he really say that he wants “to thank my mother, father, sister, etc.”?
I wonder what the “et cetera” is. Maybe a half-sister. Or a cat.
Clever, Vern
Thanks Vern for attending Saam’s announcement. Saam is very qualified for this position. He was the only one on the board to consistently vote against wasteful and out of control spending and against hiring attorneys with questionable ethics with money that should have been used in the classroom. Greer also defended Anna Bryson’s boss Chriss Street …. and lost.
This is what Bryson, Maddox, Winsten and their puppet master – Beall – want for CUSD: a collection of yes men who will willingly siphon off money from the classrooms to pay off or pay for their friends and associates. It was bad under Fleming and now it is much worse. Saam fought this all of last year but his vote was “advisory”. Maddox even sneered into the microphone at a meeting two months ago when Saam was the lone “no” vote saying “His vote doesn’t count”. Hey Kenny, his vote will soon count and you are going to be a private citizen on November 3rd!
Please contribute to Saam’s campaign: http://www.alikhaniforcusd.com
I assume “Lopez Maddox” turned on his mike this time, just to sneer at Saam.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/board-259512-school-alikhani.html
Shorter Tony Beall: “Stupid kid! Unions! Unions!”
Voters are often uninformed, but they’re not so insane to vote for someone whose campaign headquarters is his tree house.
I imagine he’ll be running his campaign from home for now and later from UCI as he pursues his interest in political science and law. He seems pretty down to earth, intelligent, experienced, familiar with the issues, and an independent advocate with a unique perspective to offer. Call me insane, but I can get behind him and I believe others will, too. (Was I more “sane” when I supported the ABCs of dysfunction: Addonizzio, Bryson and Christianson? No. Just less informed.)
Ok, you are insane.
saam seems like the right stuff. i am sending my check today. my question is why do you keep picking on greer, he is simply a hired gun who won, just like he did for pat bates, janet nguyen and others. if saam and the rest of the group were smart, they would hire the guy so that if the vote is close or there are questions, we have the best on our side. cannot wait till november!!!
Good Luck Saam! Not too many teenagers would be so bold as to run for School Board. If anything this will be a great milestone in your future political career and demonstrates tremendous leadership potential. Your campaign may also serve as a stiff kick in the butt to the current board members. If you have a FB page let us know!
I always thought that Saaaaaam was a little too young for such a highly charged elected seat. Now I am ABSOLUTELY SURE he is unfit.
He made a mockery of himself at the board meeting tonight, poking a finger in the eye of Maddox and Bryson, not exactly two of my favorites. If he wants to bring change to the board, he surely didn’t show it tonight. In essence, he acted like a pent up 18 year old would do, looking for a verbal jousting with an adversary. And this is what this Children’s First group is giving us?!?!?!?!
Now I must rethink my whole voting mentality. Are there any alternatives besides the ilk on the board and the cast of misfits this group is serving up to the public? Please somebody, step up!!
Sounds like fun, Carl, I gotta see a video of that. From what I’ve seen of Lopez and Anna, it would be hard not to do just what you described.
Saam will be fine.
Carl,
Can you blame him? I can’t imagine two more annoying politicians. Maddox in particular has always been irksome and Bryson appears to be wound far too tight. Bad combo.
Annoying, yes. But in this case, they held their tongue. It was the little man that was pushing all the buttons. Quite immature even for an 18 year old.