Seat 4: Alvarez, Winston
7:05 PM 3/17/04
Doug Erickson Wisconsin State Journal

Growing up in Madison, Johnny Winston Jr. was best friends with Kevin Salter, son of then-School Board member Kwame Salter. <

Winston recalls getting an inside view of board work from the older Salter. "I knew there was this group of people making important decisions that affected me as a student," Winston said. "Ever since then it's been something I've wanted to do." <

Winston, 35, is hoping to get that chance. The Madison firefighter is running for Seat 4 on the board against Melania Alvarez, 43, a research associate at UW-Madison. <

Incumbent Ray Allen is not seeking a fourth term. <

Candidates run districtwide but must designate a specific seat. The election is April 6. <

Winston and Alvarez faced off in an unusual primary Feb. 17. A third candidate, Gregg Mulry, had dropped out of the race earlier but couldn't get his name off the ballot. He finished third but still earned 22.3 percent of the vote. Alvarez led with 50.2 percent; Winston was second with 25.6 percent. <

The race got little media attention, overshadowed by the Democratic presidential primary and a casino gambling referendum. <

Winston said he's not dwelling on the primary and is working hard to make up the gap with Alvarez. <

Alvarez said she takes nothing for granted. Before the primary, she questioned whether her sometimes harsh criticism of the district and the School Board would turn people off. <

"People usually kill the messenger, and perhaps that's who I am," she said in an interview in early February. <

Alvarez has made curriculum issues a campaign cornerstone. The math textbooks used in elementary and middle schools don't lay a solid foundation of fundamentals, she said. <

The middle school curriculum, called "Connected Math," has failed in parts of Minnesota and California, yet the district's experts continue to push it, she said. The School Board must reclaim its role in choosing curriculum, she said. <

Alvarez said she is intensely interested in budget issues. She would oppose a referendum this year for more operating money, and, given the district's budget crisis, she thinks it would be in the best interests of teachers to accept smaller raises. Otherwise, many teachers could be laid off, she said. <

There are many great teachers in the district, Alvarez said, yet she said she has seen first-hand that black and Latino children are not challenged like other children. <

She wants to "destroy the myth that parents don't care." She would push for early and frequent contact between teachers and parents. <

Winston emphasizes his lifelong connections to the community, stressing that he has worked and volunteered for many youth organizations. <

"I've been doing things my whole life to solve problems in Madison," he said. <

His children are now the fourth generation of his family to attend Madison schools, Winston said. <

He has held many jobs in the district over the years. As a seventh-grader he swept the gym floor at Franklin Elementary for $3 an hour. As an adult, he has coached district basketball and served as a family-community liaison. <

He is a former member of Madison Teachers Inc., and the union has endorsed him in this contest. But Winston said he voted against last year's school referendum and would not support one this year. <

While often stressing that teachers deserve good pay, he also has called on teachers to consider smaller raises until the district solves its budget problems. <

The district offers a great education, Winston said, but it can do better through reaching out more to parents, businesses and organizations. <

Melania Alvarez <

Age: 43. <

Personal: Husband, Alejandro, a math professor at UW-Madison; one son, a graduate of Madison West High School; one daughter, a sixth-grader at Madison Country Day School. <

Address: 4211 Wanetah Trail. <

Job: Research associate, UW-Madison. <

Political experience: None. <

Other public service: Co-chairperson of the Nakoma Neighborhood Traffic Association; former volunteer tutor at Thoreau Elementary School. <

Education: Master's degree in operations research from Stanford University; master's degree in economics from UW-Madison. <

Top priorities: Return control of curriculum decisions to School Board; eliminate ethnic stereotyping of students; increase contact between teachers and parents. <

Little-known fact: She is completing a Ph.D. in anthropology. <

Web address: No Web site. Call her at 288-0381. <

<

Johnny Winston Jr. <

Age: 35. <

Personal: Wife, Angela Byars-Winston, assistant professor in counseling psychology at UW-Madison; three daughters; a senior at Work and Learn Center, a senior at West High School, and a newborn. <

Address: 502 Traveler Lane. <

Job: Madison firefighter. <

Political experience: None. <

Other public service: Former president of Sable Flames Inc., a group of firefighters that raises money for student scholarships; board member of 100 Black Men of Madison. <

Education: Master's degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University; certificate in certified public management from UW-Madison. <

Top priorities: Promote parent involvement; increase community partnerships; listen to teachers and parents. <

Little-known fact: He's the grandson of Addrena Squires, known to many Madison students as "Super Gram" for her volunteer work in schools. <

Web address: www.electjohnnywinstonjr.com. <

Contact Doug Erickson at derickson@madison.com or 252-6149.