The citizens of the Port Arthur ISD have an opportunity to take our school district back to integrity, honesty and responsibility and to refocus on our reason for existence, the children of Port Arthur.

We need — we must — re-elect Gregory Flores and elect two new trustees, Kenneth Marks and Lloyd Marie Johnson.

Gregory Flores has proven himself to be a dependable and trustworthy voice — and vote — for the citizens of our community and never for the special interest groups that have brought confusion and dissent to the board. He has served outstandingly and deserves to be re-elected.

Kenneth Marks and Lloyd Marie Johnson promise to bring new voices to the board. Both are capable, smart, honest, hardworking and independent. Both are knowledgeable about the schools and are dedicated to improving education in the PAISD.

The PAISD board is currently is in a desperate situation. State intervention has been necessary because the majority of the board has acted from personal agendas, not the needs of children or the financial interests of taxpayers. Mr. Flores has been one of only two trustees to stand up for the students, teachers, parents and taxpayers. Ms. Johnson and Mr. Marks are prepared to join them.

It is essential that we elect all three and bring about a board majority dedicated to education and to fiscal responsibility rather than to catering to the whims of Julia Samuels, as the other incumbents currently do.

We need to keep the good one — Gregory Flores — and replace the other two incumbents with Kenneth Marks and Lloyd Marie Johnson.

Mary Jean George

Port Arthur