Homer Tong
Nancy Newton
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Homer Tong |
Nancy Newton |
By LESTER CHANG
Extolling their experience in education and their eagerness to meet more often with parents to improve education, Fremont Union High School District Trustees Homer Tong and Nancy Newton were re-elected to four-year terms.
Tong, a former board president, drew 34.1 percent of the vote, while fellow incumbent Nancy Newton brought in 33.8 percent.
Otis Halliday Jr., a retired teacher with 38 years of experience in education, garnered 32.1 percent of the vote. Halliday focused his campaign on the stalled teacher contract talks, saying district negotiators were insensitive to teachers' needs.
Tong and Newton will be sworn into office 30 days after the election.
Newton based her re-election bid on the strength of nearly 30 years of working with educators, parents, students, residents and business people to improve education.
During her third term, Newton seeks more autonomy for schools and hopes that the district administration will work with school administrators, educators, parents, students, businesses and residents to make decisions, she said.
She also hopes to find ways to adequately compensate district employees, a pledge that follows 10 months of unsuccessful contract negotiations.
For Tong, improving education has always meant meeting with the public to hear their viewpoints on education and getting their support.
Since winning a seat on the board four years ago, Tong has convinced community leaders to get involved in the district, he said.
Among his chief goals are to attract more volunteers and make students more self-sufficient.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, November 6, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.