RELEASE: 2013 LAUSD BOE Runner Up Robert D. Skeels Endorses Dr. George McKenna for the District 1 Special Election

For Immediate Release
June 11, 2014

Contact
Robert D. Skeels http://twitter.com/rdsathene

RELEASE: 2013 LAUSD BOE Runner Up Robert D. Skeels Endorses Dr. George McKenna for the District 1 Special Election

Los Angeles, C.A. — Today, longtime social justice activist, and runner up in the 2013 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) District 2 election, Robert D. Skeels announced he is endorsing Dr. George McKenna for the August 12, 2014 runoff election.

“I'm supporting Dr. McKenna because all students in LAUSD need representation, not just the few attending the California Charter School Assocations' lucrative charter outlets,” said Skeels. “McKenna is an experienced, professional educator. What our board needs right now are representatives who understand all the nuances and complexities of our district and education policy.”

Skeels cites the support of key allies as a major reason for his public endorsement of, rather than just supporting, McKenna. "Good friends, including the Honorable Jackie Goldberg, and the distinguished Dr. Judy Perez have endorsed McKenna," said Skeels. However, it was the public endorsement of McKenna by third place finisher in the primary election, Sherlett Hendy Newbill, that spurred him on to an official endorsement. Skeels stated "Many of us worked very hard to get Sherlett elected. When I saw her endorse McKenna, I realized the importance of all of us that support public education standing behind the professional educator who was a trailblazer in the civil rights movement."

Skeels joins a long list of School Board Members, Elected Officials, Education Organizations and Leaders, Publications, Ecumenical Leaders, Community Organizations and Leaders who have endorsed Dr. George McKenna. McKenna received over over 44% of the votes in the June 3, 2014 primary election.

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Robert D. Skeels is a social justice writer, public education advocate, and immigrant rights activist. He lives, works, writes, and organizes in Los Angeles with his wife and cats. Robert is a U.S. Navy Veteran, and a proud member of Veterans for Peace. He attended Glendale Community College and graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with a BA in Classical Civilization. Robert is a committed member of CEJ, PESJA, SCIC, and the Trinational Coalition To Defend Public Education. A student of Liberation Theology and Paulo Freire's work, he devotes much time towards volunteer work for 12 step, church, and homeless advocacy. Robert’s articles and essays have appeared in publications including Schools Matter, CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Daily Censored, Echo Park Patch, K12NN, LA Progressive, and The Los Angeles Daily News. In 2013 Robert ran for the LAUSD School Board against a billionaire funded corporate reform candidate, finishing second in a field of five, with over 5,200 votes.