To the editor:

We were fortunate to have Leigh Anderson appointed to the South Whidbey School Board in 2008. We are even more fortunate that she has stepped up to run for election to the school board, giving us the benefit of her experience and in-depth understanding of the issues our community faces as we strive to ensure quality education for all our young people.

Leigh is the perfect combination of head, hands and heart. Her background is in accounting and fiscal management, and she understands the complexities of budgets as very few can. She has already established a reputation on the school board as “the numbers person” because she is tireless in her oversight of the financial details that can make or break an institution.

She is the mom of two active girls, both students in the district, and she has volunteered at their schools, doing everything from putting up decorations to chaperoning field trips. Leigh is a determined advocate for public education, believing it is one of the most important functions we perform as a community, and the cornerstone to the health of our democracy.

Leigh Anderson is what we hope for in a candidate. She takes the time to learn the details of any issue, giving careful and thorough analysis to all perspectives. Then she has the courage to move from analysis to action. There are many difficult decisions facing the school district in the face of declining enrollment and financial constraints. We are convinced Leigh can be a leader in finding ways to make the district even better in the face of these challenges.

Janice and Michael O’Mahony, Amanda and Barrett Remmen, Debbie Torget, Linda Moore and Shawn Nowlin

South Whidbey