I know Jeff Thielman as a fellow School Committee member (for the last six years), as a competing candidate in two town-wide elections, and as both chairman and member of countless Arlington subcommittees and organizations.

This puts me in a unique position to evaluate Mr. Thielman’s performance as a School Committee member.

He has earned my trust and deep respect as a public servant, particularly in his devotion to students and the quality of their education. Mr. Thielman has worked tirelessly and consistently through our town and school budget crises, political upheaval and an onslaught of educational testing and policy issues — always with students as his primary focus.

Mr. Thielman and I have disagreed and debated over many issues, but always with open minds and respect. He does his homework, consults many and various people, brings the resulting knowledge to the committee, and engages honestly in the synthesizing discussion that is the core of progressive School Committee work. These skills will be more vital than ever on the School Committee going forward. He has deliberately and thoughtfully taken some very tough stands, and been a measurable force in the improvement of our schools. I am confident that his experience and character will be integral to Arlington education in the next, difficult years.

A vote for Mr. Thielman is a positive step for the students of Arlington.