5 vying for 3 seats on Apache Junction school board

Bill Kell, Sandra Leen, Judy Williamson and incumbents Gilbert Cancio and Cami Garcia met the July 8 filing deadline to run for the position of Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board for a four-year term and will appear on the general ballot.

The 2024 General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with the voter registration deadline Oct. 7.

AJUSD has three elementary schools, a junior high school and a high school. The district is from Meridian Road on the west to the town of Queen Valley on the east and from the Goldfield Mountains to the north, south into the San Tan Corridor. Communities served include Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Peralta Trail, Queen Valley and unincorporated Pinal County land in-between.

A total of 229 signatures were required to be filed with the Pinal County School Office by July 8 to run for three seats.

Questions were sent to all five and excerpts from the below, in alphabetical order, will be in the September 2024 issue of the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent newspaper.

Gilbert K. Cancio (Submitted by Gilbert K. Cancio)

Name: Gilbert K. Cancio

Age: 73

Education:
• 2000 - Masters of arts in organizational management, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona
• 1997 - Certified public manager certificate, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona
• 1973 - Bachelor of science in police science administration, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
• 1972 - Associate of arts in general education, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, Arizona
• 1969 - High school diploma, Palo Verde High School, Tucson, Arizona

Present or most recent business/employment:
• 1988-2012 Arizona Department of Corrections, retired at the rank of captain
• 1973-1993 U.S. Marine Corps (active duty and reserves) retired at the rank of major

Previous public office, boards and commissions:
• Currently serving as vice president of governing board for Apache Junction Unified School District
• Currently serving as chairman of the Pinal County Merit System Commission

Twitter, Facebook, website and/or e-mail address for constituents to learn more about you: gilbert.cancio@goaj.org or azchaos6@gmail.com.

Are you in favor of the school district seeking $20 million in school improvement bonds in the Nov. 5 election and why? What should the funding be used for?: Approximately four years ago, when I was running for the School Board, I told many voters that I would not be in favor of supporting a bond until I had evidence that all other sources of funding had been exhausted. The state Legislature funds the Department of Administration’s Division of School Facilities Building Renewal Grants. The school district had only been applying for grant monies in the latter part of 2020. Over the last approximately four years, the district has become more aggressive in pursuing building renewal grants (BRG) in order to make much-needed improvements to the physical infrastructure. To date, there have been approximately $23 million made in improvements. However, the grants have restrictions. The funds can only be used for classroom or classroom-related areas. The funds from the bonds would enable the district to make repairs and/or improvements to the following areas for example: Restrooms at the elementary schools; locker room areas at the junior high school; reconstruction and repaving of the parking lots at all of the schools; replacement of the bleachers on the “home” side to include replacement of the “press box” The aforementioned examples are not by any means the total items that require attention.

Why are you running for school board?: I am running for reelection in order to try and make a positive difference. In 2018 I had two grandchildren that were attending AJUSD schools. I used to ask them questions related to their school subjects. More often than not, they were unable to give me the answers to very basic questions. When I was elected, I talked privately to the two previous superintendents concerning the quality of instruction that the students were receiving. I received what I felt were unsatisfactory answers. There appeared to be an attitude of “mediocrity.” Some of the board members, at the time, also didn’t appear to be concerned about student academic achievement. We have a new superintendent and things are turning around for what I perceive to be for the better.

What makes you different from the other candidates? How will you make a difference on the school board?: I have no problem asking the hard questions of the superintendent, in private conversation. I am “blunt” according to some people. There have been times, in the past, when a blunt conversation has been needed.

What is your vision for the school district?: My vision for AJUSD is to one day be the best school district in Arizona academically when compared to other districts its size.

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Cami Garcia (Submitted by Cami Garcia)

Name: Cami Garcia

Age: 51

Education: Graduated from Apache Junction High School in 1991. I attended Mesa Community College for two years and received a medical assistant certificate in 1993/1994. In 2004 I attended real estate school. In 2014-15 I had the opportunity to purchase Western Lifestyle after getting my broker’s license. In 2023 I purchased Otero Realty and Property Management and now do property management, sales, rentals and commercial all under Western Lifestyle Realty with a great team of agents.

Present or most recent business/employment: Western Lifestyle Realty, 24 years

Previous public office, boards and commissions:
1. President of Black and Gold Youth Football 15 years
2. Vice president of AJ Little League for three years.
3. Team mom for the Prospector High School Football Team for eight years.
4. I have served on many PTO organizations to include volunteering in Lost Dutchman Marathon, Lost Dutchman Days.
5. Boosters- Helped as a team mom to raise money for our AJUSD kids.
6. AJ Community Development one year
7. SOS - “Saving our Schools” nonprofit organization to help fight for public education.

Twitter, Facebook, website and/or e-mail address for constituents to learn more about you: My facebooks are Cami Ochs Garcia, Cami Garcia for AJUSD, Cami Garcia (Western Lifestyle Realty); camigsells@gmail.com

Are you in favor of the school district seeking $20 million in school improvement bonds in the Nov. 5 election and why? What should the funding be used for?: Apache Junction Unified School District will be going out for a bond in this November election. We at Apache Junction strive to teach education excellence for our kids’ future. We are asking the community to please join together and approve this bond. By approving this bond we will receive the funding we need to improve our schools and the building facilities. Many of our bathrooms, locker rooms, sports fields and the all-around infrastructure of our campus need upgrading and improvements. We strive on academic excellence and want our students to be in a school environment that allows high academic achievement along with prioritizing safe schools that will provide the best learning environment for our students. We are a growing community and when we join together as one community our families, businesses and students will all come out as winners. When we invest in our schools we are investing in our students. By doing this we provide a culture of success and a sense of community that is open to learning.

Why are you running for school board?: I have served on the Apache Junction School Board for eight years. This will be my third term running. I was born and raised here in our beautiful community. Proud product of being able to say that I have attended the AJUSD school system from K-12th grade graduating with the class of 1991. My husband currently works for Superstition Fire & Medical District as a captain. We have raised three boys in this school system who have all now graduated. Prior to running in 2016 I dedicated myself to be deeply involved in our community and the kids. I attended school board meetings faithfully for about three years to enable myself to be educated and knowledgeable on the facts of school budget, school issues, and policy and procedures. I was involved with sports, events and our community to allow me to be a strong attribute to this position. Over the years we have experienced school closures, student decline in enrollment, elimination of essentials for our students such as electives and programs. The lack of state funding has set us back. I am running again to help move our school system in a vibrant direction where we have high student achievements, great sports programs, excellence with academics and community involvement that will attract new families to our schools.

What makes you different from the other candidates? How will you make a difference on the school board?: I have the leadership skills and experience from being on the board for eight years and being involved with our community. I am a team leader that understands our community and the families on what it takes to make AJUSD great. I understand the visions, ideas and goals to make our school system thrive.

What is your vision for the school district? We as a board have a lot of work to do. We are working on improving academics by adding more instructional time and focusing on the individual student to target specifically what our students need. This approach enhances student engagement and makes learning fun. Bringing back more electives such as welding, automotive, accounting classes, drivers education to allow the students to have more choices. Our AP courses are in place again for our students that want to take college-level classes while completing the high school degree. We need to increase student enrollment by providing our students with the technology to prepare them for after graduation. We need great sports programs for our students to maintain their health and interest. Most importantly we need to support our teachers and staff, by making them feel appreciated. We need community involvement and support from the city, families and students. Please take the time to educate yourself on the candidates running and make sure your decision is based on the dedication and involvement that one puts into the district to be a good school board member. One who is truly invested in the community and our children.

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Bill Kell (Submitted by Bill Kell)

Name: Bill Kell

Age: 76

Education and present or most recent business/employment: I’m a conservative, financially and policy wise. Veteran, U.S. Navy, River Division 531, Nhe Be, South Vietnam. Spent 20 years with Albertsons in six states, 10 years as a store director, three years as an assistant manager, three years as an Albertsons corporate staff accountant while attending Boise State University earning my accounting degree. As a store director I had a strong working relationship with high school students as courtesy clerks, aka “bag boys and girls.” Most were in school programs that were graded and credit hours for graduation.

Previous public office, boards and commissions: No prior public office. Republican precinct captain.

Twitter, Facebook, website and/or e-mail address for constituents to learn more about you: Next door, Facebook, billylush@outlook.com.

Are you in favor of the school district seeking $20 million in school improvement bonds in the Nov. 5 election and why? What should the funding be used for? Yes. Apache Junction is now growing in population; $20 million is the correct amount to be used in $5 million segments as needed for new schools and facilities only.

Why are you running for school board? My accounting knowledge helps me make the correct financial decisions, not emotions. I don’t think outside of the box, but outside of the circle.

What makes you different from the other candidates? I’m a retired widower in excellent health and have the time to devote. I’ve ran 12 marathons.

How will you make a difference on the school board? Four major programs I want to be heavily involved in:
No. 1: Monitor the school budget and that the dollars are spent correctly. School financial accounting is different than public accounting.
No. 2: Four years ago a conservative board member established a dedicated person to submit grants for free money for schools. I will assist to expand grant money requests — $13 million in the last four years with no increase from taxpayers.
No. 3: LG is building a 1,254,194-square-foot manufacturing plant in San Tan. They’re currently constructing a 45,000-square-foot training center at AJ CAC. Coordinate a plan to send Apache Junction High School seniors to this training center for school credits to be ready for employment upon graduation for good-paying LG jobs and careers.
No. 4: Expand the new GENTECH STEM classes.

What is your vision for the school district?: Not answered.

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Sandra Leen (Submitted by Sandra Leen)

Name: Sandra Leen

Age: 47

Education: Master’s degree in secondary education

Present or most recent business/employment: Orchestra teacher

Previous public office, boards and commissions: None

Twitter, Facebook, website and/or e-mail address for constituents to learn more about you: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564316544507

Are you in favor of the school district seeking $20 million in school improvement bonds in the Nov. 5 election and why? What should the funding be used for?: I am not in favor of this. To my understanding, the district just recieved money recently for improvements. Why did they not better use those funds? It costs money to put this on the ballot which could be better used for the district. The city has not passed a bond in years and will not until they regain the trust of the community.

Why are you running for school board?: I am running for school board because I want to make a difference for the district. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines and just complain about what is going on. I want to be actively involved in the decision making process. I started teaching in this district over 15 years ago and have seen a decline in the academics and want to change this. We need to have better communication between the board and public. The district is in dire need of a positive work environment. We are seeing many of our district’s most valuable teachers leaving for better pay. We need to do something here to make quality teachers want to come and stay. The turnaround with teachers is not something a good district should accept. Without quality teachers, we cannot provide the students with a fighting chance should they choose to continue on to college.

What makes you different from the other candidates? How will you make a difference on the school board?: I believe that I have the most diverse perspective of all the candidates. I was a community member, then a teacher as well as a parent for the district. I believe my qualities as a leader can mend the distrust and move the district in a positive direction.

What is your vision for the school district?: My vision is to have everyone working in harmony. Community, educators and board. In order to do this, we need to regain the trust of everyone involved.

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Judy Williamson (Submitted by Judy Williamson)

Name: Judy Williamson

Age: 53

Education: Graduated from Christian Liberty Academy in Illinois and completed some college classes at Mesa Community College, and Rio Salado College in Arizona.

Present or most recent business/employment: My husband and I own Old West Machining & Welding Inc., located in Apache Junction where I do all the design work for custom orders being cut on the CNC plasma cutter and some of the bookkeeping. I am also the owner of two other businesses: Arizona Display, which is a brochure distribution service and Katie Bug’s Boutique, which offers custom T-shirt printing and more.

Previous public office, boards and commissions: None

Twitter, Facebook, website and/or e-mail address for constituents to learn more about you: judylw25@yahoo.com

Are you in favor of the school district seeking $20 million in school improvement bonds in the Nov. 5 election and why? What should the funding be used for? I cannot intelligently answer this question at this time. I would need a lot more information first.

Why are you running for school board? We need strong school board members who are willing to stand up for what is right and protect our students from bad ideology that is creeping into our schools.

What makes you different from the other candidates? God has impressed upon my heart that running for school board is something that I need to do.

How will you make a difference on the school board? I will stand for righteousness and make a difference for good in any way that I can to ensure that our students have the best learning experience possible.

What is your vision for the school district?: Our students deserve the best education they can have and we need to ensure that through providing the best curriculum and learning that will better equip them in the future. They need to learn life skills and trades that will help them grow.