Mailbag: A friend and fan of Andrew Blumenfeld

I first met Andrew Blumenfeld as my rival during the 2011 La Cañada school board campaign. I was immediately struck by his fluency in education policy and strategies as well as his obvious passion for student interests. It was evident that his words and actions were motivated by a consistent philosophy — what is best for students.

When we began serving as colleagues on the school board, his commitment to student achievement remained resolute. Together with our outstanding superintendent, and the rest of the board, he challenged the status quo and was often the leader in crafting innovative solutions that drew on the strengths of our community and the talents of our administration and staff. Between meetings, Andrew continued to outreach to all stakeholders and stayed on top of activities at the local, state and federal levels that affected education policies and practices.

Andrew’s decision to run for the state Assembly comes as no surprise and is a welcome next step for this extremely talented educator. As a former board president as well as an ongoing parent, I understand that the decisions made in our legislature affect our children’s educational experience profoundly. Both in session and behind the scenes, it is imperative that our representative support and empower school boards to promote student well being and achievement. I am confident that Andrew will employ his passion and leadership to build consensus among a disparate body with often competing interests.

I am grateful to my friend, Andrew, for his service to our community and for his legacy of a passionate commitment to student achievement. I am very proud of the progress we made together and am excited for his decision to bring his talents to Sacramento. He will work relentlessly every day to insure that education remains a state priority and that local districts have the tools and support we need to insure the success of our students. I encourage you to join me in my support of Andrew for the 43rd Assembly District.

Ellen Multari
La Cañada Flintridge