School board meetings are neither the time nor the place to conduct political campaigns. If school board candidates wish to conduct nasty, mudslinging campaigns, there is probably no way to stop them. To her credit, Woods withstood Gardner's latest verbal assaults with commendable composure. But Woods, too, has used the public proceedings to carry on her personal spat with Gardner. Escondido does not need this.
Public education is too important an institution to let bickering and egos interfere with it.
We call upon all candidates in all elections this fall to stick to the issues and treat their opponents and the public in general with the respect they deserve.