Ready to drive into the future
By Jennifer Colton - Argus Observer
Friday, May 11, 2007 11:34 AM PDT
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| Fruitland School Board member Galen Lee drives a tractor spraying a sugar beet field Thursday in Fruitland. Lee first joined the board in November 2003 and is running for re-election for Zone 4 in Tuesday’s election against Mike Knee. |
Fruitland - Four years is not enough for sitting Fruitland School Board member Galen Lee.
“I think I’ve done a good job while I’ve been on the board, and that’s why I’m running for re-election,” he said. “I think things are running pretty smooth. We’ve had a lot of growth, and with that there have been changes, but we’re having growth because Fruitland is a great place to live and a great place to raise kids.”
Lee is running against Mike Knee for the Zone 4 position on Tuesday, while Jim Smith and Wayne Snavely are competing for the Zone 1 Fruitland School Board slot.
Kelly Henggeler is running unopposed for Zone 5.
“I just want to encourage people to get out and vote,” Lee said. “People need to get out and get the people elected they want. That’s what our country is based on.”
Lee described himself as a farmer, working with his family to grow asparagus, sugar beets, hay and grain as well as managing a dairy and beef cows.
“I’m a farmer, I work with my family,” he said. “I enjoy it. I love farming, that’s why I do it.”
Lee said he also enjoys working with the Fruitland School Board, where he has served since November 2003.
“It’s been rewarding and challenging,” he said. “There’s always issues coming up, and what I’ve found is you have to hear both sides before you make up your mind. We act as the hearings officers. We listen to both sides, and in the end, we have to do what is best for the kids.”
While the mediation can be the most challenging part of serving the board, Lee also said it also has positive aspects.
“My favorite experiences (with the board) are when the groups come in and tell us where they’ve been,” Lee said. “FFA, band, math council at the middle school. All those, when they come back from conferences or competitions and tell us how they’ve done, that just speaks well for Fruitland and how we’ve done.”
Lee said he attended Fruitland schools for all 12 years of general education before he left the area for college. After working out of the state, he returned to Fruitland.
“I was raised here, I’ve been a part of the community my whole life,” he said. “I plan to stay that way. I definitely have a vested interest in Fruitland. I farm here. We plan to keep doing whatever we can to help the community.”
No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:
And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.
Disgusting. "