News

The sole finalist for the Berkeley schools superintendent post has withdrawn his candidacy after rumors circulated that he opposes same-sex marriage.

Berkeley school board members announced three weeks ago that Edmond Heatley, a retired Marine officer who is currently superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia, was the only finalist in a comprehensive nationwide search for a new superintendent.

But some Berkeley parents and teachers criticized Heatley last week after they found a memo he wrote in 2008, when he was superintendent in Chino in San Bernardino County, which they said showed that he backed a resolution in support of Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

School board president John Selawsky said today that there are conflicting opinions about whether Heatley's memo actually supported the controversial ballot measure, but in the wake of the publicity about the matter he thinks it would have been difficult for Heatley to do a good job in Berkeley. -more-

Berkeley Unified School District spokesperson Mark Coplan released a statement this morning reporting that Dr. Edmond Heatley, previously identified as the only finalist for the job of Superintendent of Schools, has withdrawn from candidacy. He has been the focus of sustained public criticism because of his participation in a training program funded by Eli Broad, a wealthy proponent of charter schools and other educational theories, and because his name was attached to a memo to the Chino school board promoting a resolution supporting Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. -more-

In what promises to be a heated fight for Berkeley's soul, a Berkeley anti-sitting-ban committee launched a well-organized campaign downtown Sunday against Measure S, which would prohibit sitting on the sidewalk in commercial districts. -more-

More than 100 people who packed a public hearing yesterday urged the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider its plan to close the historic main post office in downtown Berkeley.

Closing the 57,200-square-foot building at 2000 Alston Way, which was built in 1914 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, "would be akin to selling off a redwood state park," Berkeley resident Edith Hallberg said at the hearing in the City Council's chambers.

Adolfo Cabral, who is running for a City Council seat in the Nov. 6 election, said, "This property needs to remain as a common good for the public." -more-

A free informative walk around troubled Aquatic Park in Berkeley is scheduled for Saturday morning September 22 from 10 to 12:30. The two mile walk, guided by Mark Liolios of EGRET, departs from the Waterside Café at 84 Bolivar Drive, opposite Pexxikon, and will circle the Park clockwise, ending at Touchdown Plaza in front of the new Dona Spring Animal Shelter at the base of the pedestrian bridge. -more-

Edmond Heatley would clearly be a terrible choice for superintendent of the Berkeley Unified School District.

1. He has very little classroom experience: only two years teaching in Norfolk Virginia after a career in the Marines before moving on to administrative positions. We need a superintendent who knows what teaching is all about from first hand experience. The classroom is where education takes place.
2. He has been accurately described as a "gypsy", an administrator who moves frequently from district to district. Has he been anywhere for more than 3 years?
3. He hasn't done a good job where he has been superintendent.

More than 60 Berkeley residents and city and community leaders rallied support today at the city's downtown Constitution Square for their campaign to defeat Measure S, a “sit-lie” proposal on this November’s ballot which would make it illegal to sit on a sidewalk in commercial corridors. -more-

The Community Campaign Center at 1551 University, which is the campaign home for Measure U, along with Jacquelyn McCormick, Kriss Worthington and a handful of other campaigns, will be holding its grand opening tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. -more-

The following candidates have received the endorsement of Berkeley Citizens Action for the November 2012 election, selected Sunday September 16 at our candidate endorsement meeting. Candidates who were endorsed got at least 60% of the vote. If that threshold was not met, BCA makes no endorsement. -more-

The BCA Candidate Endorsement Meeting will take place on Sunday, Sept. 16, 1:30 to 5 PM, at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. @ Ashby Ave. -more-

Here are previous Planet articles with information and opinion about Berkeley’s November election:

ENDORSEMENT SPECIAL: Berkeley Mayor and City Council 09-05-2012

Berkeley Heats Up For the Fall Election Season 08-29-2012

Press Release: Bates and Berkeley Council Violated Brown Act in Measure S Process, Says ACLU in Letter From Bob Offer-Westort, Berkeley Standing Up for the Right to Sit Down; Michael T. Risher, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Northern California: 415 621 2493 09-06-2012

There's Something About Tom Bates (News Analysis) By Ted Friedman 09-01-2012

New: Berkeley Election News in Other Media 09-04-2012

Profiles of the Candidates for Berkeley Office in the November Election From the Berkeley City Clerk 08-28-2012

Berkeley Mayoral Candidates Forum on Sept 26th By Margot Smith 08-29-2012

Election Information: 2012 Berkeley Ballot Measures 08-29-2012

Berkeley's General Election Calendar From the Berkeley City Clerk 08-29-2012

Jacquelyn McCormick for Mayor (Opinion) By Martha Nicoloff 08-29-2012 -more-