LHISD Trustee candidates share their views

Voters in the Liberty Hill Independent School District will consider candidates for School Trustee when they go to the polls May 6. Early voting is April 24-May 2.

In Place 1, the seat currently held by Terry Smith, there are three challengers. Those include Brandon Canady, Chris Neighbors and Cory Milam.

In Place 2, incumbent Kendall Carter is being challenged by Antonio Canas.

The Liberty Hill Independent recently asked the candidates a series of questions and their responses appear unedited below. Learn more about the candidates by attending a Candidate Forum hosted by The Independent at 6:30pm April 19 at Santa Rita Middle School.

LHI: What compelled you to run for school board?

BRANDON CANADY: I have two daughters ages 7 and 3. My wife and I both attended Liberty Hill schools: Kindergarten through graduation. We want our daughters to experience the same great school district we did. I have decided to run for school board, because I have concerns that we could lose sight of the culture and values that have made our district exceptional. Growing up in Liberty Hill, I know first-hand how great this district sets students up for life after graduation, and I want to see that continue for many years to come. I do not want to let big government tell us how to raise and teach our children. Instead, I want to advocate for LHISD’s values. Knowing the history of this town and ISD, I can offer the board a different perspective on policies and decisions than someone who hasn’t grown up here and been through this school system. I want to give back and serve the community that helped raise me. I am running for my kids, as well as yours. Let’s get back to our roots!

CORY MILAM: I have a deep passion for the culture and values that make this community so great and the main reason why we moved here. I want to ensure that they are at the forefront of every decision we make as a district with all of the current & future growth. Another reason I was compelled to run is due to the fact that the East side of town has no representation and there are a lot of big decisions that will be made in the next two years regarding the new high school that I would like to be the voice of our community and represent their wants and needs I say this in no way to cause division in our community. Unity as a Liberty Hill community is critical as we grow, but I believe the best way to avoid division is representation across our district. I will not be a divisive member, but one who strives to give a voice to the Eastern side of our district. With my background in construction, I feel I would be an asset with the growth we currently have and the growth we have in the future. I also believe that it’s important for us to have strong leadership on the School Board - leadership that is committed to preserving the core values of this community and ensuring that all voices are heard. I want to be a part of that leadership and I want to work with the community to make sure that our schools are the best they can be and their voices are heard.

TERRY SMITH: I wanted to get involved in the community and with the district. I wanted to learn what it was like to serve on a school board. It has been a learning experience for sure.

KENDALL CARTER: Originally I was asked to run for the school board by sitting members of the school board. I served on the long range planning committee and bond committee and decided to run for school board. Now that I’m up for re-election, I know more about the role and responsibilities associated with the position. I now understand how the board is doing everything possible to give the students the best possible opportunity to become champions in academics, character, and community.

ANTONIO CANAS: I am a modest individual who loves to help others in need and positively impact our community with tangible actions, such as helping communities during a disaster and guiding teenagers that need assistance. I’m resourceful, always finding a plan B for a problem. Quitting is not an option; if I set my goal of becoming a board member, I will continue to run to obtain my goal. I would be very proud to be a member of the LHISD school board and serve this great district and community with so much potential. With three children currently enrolled in LHISD, I am interested in the quality of education provided and in managing our tax dollars and having participated in many school district activities, such as attending the monthly board member meetings and providing public testimony regarding community concerns regarding fixing street traffic lights and caring for our disabled students. To assist the district with the shortage of teachers, I recently started working as a substitute teacher for half a day at least once a week.

CHRIS NEIGHBORS: I have served on multiple committees and boards for LHISD, including the Campus Education Improvement Committee, but it was my most recent involvement with the Long-Range Planning Committee that motivated me to run for school board. The LRPC provided valuable insights into the incredible growth Liberty Hill is experiencing and will continue to experience in the years ahead. I feel my background and experience in construction and development and long-term planning would be a great addition to the board. I want to ensure that LHISD remains one of the top school districts in the state without sacrificing the Liberty Hill that brought us all here in the first place.

LHI: Describe your general philosophy about public education.

CANADY: Public education is the cornerstone of our society. When done correctly, it gives children the foundation needed to go into the next chapter of their life and be successful. If we, as a district, can continue to focus on letting teachers teach and remove any political distractions in our classrooms, we can continue to give our kids the foundation they deserve. Politics belong at home between the parents and their children. The focus in the classroom should be on core subjects and allow the students to learn, grow, and develop the ability to think critically for themselves. This traditional education gives students fundamentals they need to be successful while maintaining parental rights to teach politics and family values how they see fit at home.

MILAM: I believe that public education should be accountable to the community it serves. We need to be transparent and open about how our schools are performing and make sure that we are using taxpayer dollars responsibly. All kids deserve the best education, it does not matter what campus you attend in Liberty Hill you should have equitable facilities and high quality