ENDORSEMENTS

I write as a former member of the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees to offer my full and unqualified support for the re-election of Annette Kunze to the school board.

Serving on a school board is not a ceremonial role. It is the work of setting wise policy, carefully stewarding public funds, and making sound decisions that affect every classroom in the district. Mtenure with the board ended before Annette was elected, but I have watched her approach that responsibility with seriousness, preparation, and a consistent focus on the best interests of the students.

Annette does the work required as a board trustee. She prepares for public board hearings in advance to ensure she understands the issues before they are presented. She asks the hard questions and listens to staff, parents, and community members before she votes. She treats colleagues with respect even when she disagrees, and she does not confuse volume with leadership. Above all, Annette is fair.

During her current term, Annette has shown she understands our schools must be academically rigorous, and they must be places where students are safe and supported. She has been a steady voice for fiscal discipline in an environment where adequate funding for education is often a scarce resource. Annette has supported teachers and administrative staff, while insisting on results for students. That balance between supporting a quality education while maintaining fiscal integrity is precisely what a well-run board looks like from the inside.

​The values that guide her are common sense, tradition, excellence, and trust. Those qualities are embedded in how she works with people, and they are reflected in how the Kunze family has lived in this community. Annette’s family has a remarkable record of service to the City of Galt, to the State of California, and to the country.

​I respectfully urge voters to re-elect Annette Kunze to the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees. Our community would be well served by returning her to office.

I am happy to join the LONG list of community leaders who have endorsed Annette Kunze for reelection for the Galt Elementary Board.

​I have served the past 4 years with Annette and I can speak to her commitments in the following areas: financial responsibility, quality education emphasis, strong parent/family partnership and community involvement.

As a small district it's important to keep our reserves intact and maintain financial solvency - many districts in our state are now reaping the consequences of overspending and overpromising. The financial destabilization of districts leads to a decreased quality experience for students. Financial responsibility, while unsexy, is the mark of a good leader.

Annette is willing to think outside the box when it comes to educational topics and is constantly asking "how can we do this better?" Her desire is for us to stand out academically as a district and support teachers and staff in the best possible ways. Her goal is to exceed the state averages in math and literacy and make progress the priority.

Schools are part of a larger community ecosystem, and a student's family is at the center. She recognizes and respects that parents are our most valuable partners when it comes to education and that parents in Galt are trusting the district to educate well and care for their children responsibly.

Finally, Annette values the small town traditions and school cultural events that make Galt Elementary District unique. Strong communities are built with traditions and shared experiences and Annette has demonstrated her support of this by attending special events and serving in other community roles.

On a personal note, I have appreciated the unique perspectives and experience of our entire board as I have served, and that includes Annette. She brings helpful financial, political and life experience to this role.

I would encourage all in Area 5 to reelect Annette Kunze.

I am proud to endorse Annette Kunze for Galt Elementary School Board Area 5. She is present in our community in many different ways. I truly believe she has the best interests of our parents and students at heart. 

I am supporting Annette for re-election to the Galt Elementary School Board. She has been a champion for kids, parents, and staff. Please vote for Annette Kunze.  

I’m endorsing Annette because she has proven that she is a leader with integrity. She has prioritized a focus on student achievement, transparency with the community, and fiscal responsibility. I trust Annette to continue her outstanding work in her next term and I hope you will join me in supporting her! 

We are pleased to endorse Annette Kunze for re-election to the Galt Joint Union Elementary School Board.

​We, as a former school board/city council member, and a retired teacher and site administrator in the district, appreciate the importance of responsible, transparent leadership in our community and the necessity of a safe educational environment to best serve the needs of our students, parents, and educators.

Having served in the district through the effects of the great recession we both know the challenge of making tough fiscal decisions in the face of critically inadequate funding and having to teach under those conditions. We also know the importance of making sound, if unpopular, fiscal decisions when times are better in order to place the district in a position to weather the next such shortfall. Annette has demonstrated the courage and willingness to make these decisions.

We believe Annette has demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency in the educational environment and meaningful parent involvement in their children’s education and development. She has also stayed abreast of state mandates limiting parental involvement and fought to preserve school partnership with parents and families. We need more leaders with the common sense and courage to question and, when necessary, challenge misguided or harmful state mandates.

​We appreciate Annette’s willingness to look within, as well as beyond, the traditional educational establishment for the best practices, ideas and solutions that can best serve our district. She does the work to get the needed input to make informed decisions, whether it be from staff, students, parents, families, legal counsel or the school board association.

We believe these qualities are important to the continued success of our schools, and we are proud to support Annette Kunze for re-election.

​Kevin Papineau, GJUESD Trustee 2010-2018 Galt City Council 2020-2024

Laura Papineau, GJUESD Teacher/Site Administrator 2001-2025

I am pleased to offer my endorsement of Annette Kunze for re-election to the Galt Elementary School Board.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Annette and talk about our community, our schools, and the responsibility that comes with serving the people of Galt. I came away from that conversation impressed by her genuine commitment to our community, her thoughtful approach to leadership, and, most importantly, her dedication to the students and families of Galt.

Annette has served on the Galt Elementary School Board since 2022, but her connection to our community goes back much further. She and her husband raised their four children here, all of whom attended Galt schools, and she has spent decades involved in our community. That experience gives her an understanding of Galt that cannot simply be learned from sitting on a board.

What stood out to me during our conversation was Annette's focus on the fundamentals: providing students with an excellent education, supporting teachers and staff, maintaining fiscal responsibility, involving parents, and ensuring our schools remain an important part of the community we are all proud to call home.

As a member of the Galt City Council, I believe our community is strongest when the City, our schools, public safety agencies, local organizations, parents, and residents work together. We need elected officials who are willing to listen, collaborate, and make decisions based on what is best for the people they serve. I believe Annette brings that approach to the Galt Elementary School Board.

After meeting with her and learning more about her priorities, experience, and commitment to Galt, I am proud to support Annette Kunze for re-election to the Galt Elementary School Board and encourage Galt residents to give her their consideration and support.

I am proud to endorse Annette Kunze for reelection to the Galt Elementary School Board, representing Area 5.

​I have known Annette for many years, and our children grew up and attended school together. During those years, I had the opportunity to volunteer alongside her and personally witnessed how hardworking, dedicated, and passionate she is about supporting our students and schools. She helped establish the Galt Teen Center and devoted countless hours to fundraising and making it the success it is today.

Since Annette joined the Elementary School Board in 2022, we have continued working together on issues that affect students throughout our community. As a member of the Galt High School District Board, I appreciate that Annette and I can reach out to one another and collaborate on matters that benefit students at every grade level.

Annette is a strong advocate for parents’ rights and a dedicated protector of all children. She is incredibly smart, does her research, and pours her heart and soul into serving our community. She is approachable and a thoughtful listener who treats everyone with kindness and respect—even when there is disagreement.

We are fortunate to have Annette serving on our Elementary School Board, and I sincerely hope you will join me in supporting her reelection.

I’m proud to endorse Annette Kunze for re-election to the Galt Elementary School Board.

I had the opportunity to sit down with both candidates, and I truly appreciated both conversations. Both care about our kids, our schools, and our community, and I’m glad I had the chance to hear directly from each of them.

​Before serving in elected office myself, I spent more than 15 years as a reporter covering local school boards. During that time, I saw firsthand how important it is for board members to understand not only the issues facing our schools, but also the responsibilities—and limitations—of the role.

After meeting with both candidates, I came away confident that Annette has the experience, judgment, and realistic understanding of the position needed to continue serving our district well. She understands the role of the board, the needs of our district, and the importance of balancing what we would like to accomplish with the realities and resources of a small school district. I also appreciate Annette’s commitment to keeping parents involved and ensuring they have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their children.

We may not always agree on every issue, and I don’t expect that from anyone I endorse. What matters to me is sound judgment, an understanding of the job, and a willingness to make thoughtful decisions for our students, families, and community.

For those reasons, Annette has my support, and I’m proud to endorse her for another term.

Having served alongside Annette on the Board for nearly two years, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how she approaches the role. She spends a significant amount of time reviewing laws, legislation, district policies, and the issues that come before the Board. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Annette. She puts in the hours! Someone like Annette runs for an office like this truly for being a positive influence on the kids and school system and not for personal gain.

​Annette and I have also worked together through a number of difficult and even controversial issues affecting your kids, and we have always found ourselves taking similar positions on Board policies and decisions, as evidenced by our voting records.

• Michael Gates, Candidate for California Attorney General

• Sonja Shaw, Candidate for State Superitendent of Public Instruction