I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Jeff Thielman's return to the Arlington School Committee. My letter comes a little late in the day, but it was spurred on by two things. First, I watched a video of the debate staged by Arlington Community TV and The Advocate, and found Jeff to be the candidate who spoke with both his brain and his heart. The other two candidates were fine, but Jeff knows the issues cold, and he knows our system and our kids in a way that only someone with his background and his experience on the Committee can. I urge you to watch the candidates at: http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/multimedia/x679798998/Watch-the-School-Committee-candidates-debate#comments.

The second reason I am writing is because last week's Advocate contained a letter that very personally attacked Jeff. But the letter contained allegations only, and referred to Ottoson Middle School issues that are both well known (everyone knows their set of facts, right?) and completely unresolved. The letter writer's key damning statement begins "If the conclusions are correct that the School Committee was negligent..." (emphasis added). Well, sure, IF. And as the saying goes, "If my aunt were a man, she'd be my uncle." The letter writer and I agree on one thing: We await the outcome of the process, and we hope we have all the facts then.

Meanwhile, I had, some many weeks back, suggested that Jeff not run for SC again. It had been a long, hard six years, and he has a job, a growing family, Town Meeting, and various other ways he can contribute his skills and his energy to the community. Jeff would have none of it: He had made a very positive contribution on the School Committee; schools and education policy are his unique expertise. He would not walk away from a controversy, which he could not address until resolved. Others could accuse, undermine and distort, but Jeff seeks to build up, educate and move us forward.

Jeff is the candidate I believe we can move forward with, and I hope you will consider deeply giving Jeff one of your two votes on April 4.