Brent Lightfoot for SD308 School Board: Patch Candidate Profile

Name: Brent Lightfoot

Age: 48

Position Sought: Oswego 308 School Board

Family: Wife Cate, and three children in the district.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Education: B.A. Telecommunications Michigan State University

Occupation: Media research - 19+ years. Currently Sr. Director Research iHeartMedia.

Why are you running?

First, we are facing a critical budget shortfall. Cuts will need to be made and I would work to ensure that the last thing we are cutting are teachers. Cuts outside of the classroom should be the priority. Second, we need to develop a long term financial plan for the district.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: School Board Member (2011-2015)

Campaign Website: www.lightfootfor308.com

What do you hope to accomplish in office?

I think it's critical to find long term solutions to both the debt and budget issues. These solutions will not be coming from Springfield, we need to guide our own path. We also need to work on solutions to close the achievement gap with low income and minority students.

How would you hold local government employees accountable?

An elected board has two great tools to ensure accountability. First, setting measurable goals that are transparent to all stakeholders. Second, asking questions and following up to ensure both the board and the staff are communicating from the same page.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

We live in a very high taxed area of the state and country, increasing taxes will only ensure that people will be forced to move. All forms of government must show that they are being both efficient and effective with tax dollars. Oswego 308 is facing two financial issues, one is the operating budget and the other is the $670M debt. The budget will need to be balanced, and cuts should come from areas away from the class rooms. The debt is so large that it is controlling us. Refinancing, thus far has only ensured two things, increasing debt through additional interest and creating a future wall that will cripple taxpayers in the future. The responsible position is to start paying down debt.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Though the use of independent data I showed that the district was not growing to the point we needed a 3rd high school. Building additions cost the tax payers half of the cost of a new school. District projections presented in Jan 2017 now show a declining student population.

Photo provided by Brent Lightfoot