Dublin voters are casting ballots in Dublin ISD School Board races Saturday.
Polls are open at the Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville (100 W. Washington) and the Dublin County Annex (219 S. Grafton) open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day (May 1).
Four candidates are running for three positions, including incumbents Charlie Bradberry, Raymond Salinas and Jeff Weaver and challenger James Moore.
James Moore
School Board candidate James Moore may be the challenger, but he brings experience from previously serving the board at a crucial time, as he was on the school board who approved superintendent Rodney Schneider and Athletic Director Bob Cervetto.
He admits to being a little lost in that first year, but learned a lot with the help of fellow board members Mike Jurney and Sammy Moore.
James Moore feels that the experience he earned during this transition period could benefit the current board, who have had to deal with tough, but different issues.
If he wins the election Saturday, Moore said he will strive for transparency in all things and make sure the right questions are asked before votes are made.
“I think more questions need to be asked,” Moore said. “More people need to be held accountable. I think our kids deserve that.”
Such questions include how spending on one project will affect other aspects of the school. Moore admits to being an avid sports fan, but said he would make sure that spending on athletics isn’t cutting into other programs at the school, since some students are more geared towards other endeavors.
He also said that he would like to ensure the school remains financially responsible and cuts any unnecessary spending.
“I want to be a good steward of our taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Moore considers seeking citizen input as part of being a good steward, so he would like to see public meetings or campaigns to determine what programs the community would like to invest in and maybe take votes or suggestions on things like naming facilities.
Moore also reported that he likes promoting people from within the district, but he said he would seek to post jobs, making sure the school got the best possible candidate and letting the candidates from within have a chance to show their qualifications and that they’re right for the position. He said he doesn’t believe in the ‘brother-in-law’ system and that people should get positions on their own merit.
As the father of two DISD Students, Colton (a senior next year) and Hudson (in 8th grade next year), James said that he will have one guiding principle in his voting: “Does it help the kids? If it helps the kids, I’ll vote for it. If it hurts the kids, we need to look somewhere else.”
Moore currently works in the oilfield and has 15 years of experience in law enforcement (13 full-time and two as a reserve). He is married to Shear Heaven owner, Lindsay Moore, who served as Dublin Athletic Booster Club president this year.
Moore has been seen at many a football game with the crew managing the inflatable lion head through which the team enters the game.
It’s a need he saw and has helped out. He said that the same desire is what inspired him to run for school board. If elected, he will strive to ask the right questions and make sure that students and the community are being properly served.
Charlie Bradberry
Charlie Bradberry joined the Dublin School Board in 2012 to serve on the school where one of his daughters graduated and his grandchildren are attending/have attended.
He is a graduate of the Dublin High School class of ‘78.
Bradberry has owned multiple
businesses over the years. He currently owns and operates Bradberry Building Supply, which he opened in 1997, and Blessings, which he opened with his wife, Susan, last year.
“I have been very successful in my businesses and my personal life,” Bradberry said when he originally sought his seat on the school board. “I attribute my success in life to three things: God, My family, and Dublin High School.
Bradberry stated when he was first running that he was running for Dublin School Board because I feel that the children of today deserve the type of quality education that he got.
He brings years of experience in business and the school board and puts the “highest quality of education” for the children of Dublin as his primary focus.
Bradberry said he promotes reasonable spending as well so he aims to seize the best quality experience for students while being fiscally responsible to taxpayers.
Raymond Salinas
Raymond Salinas has been on the Dublin School Board since 2015 and is currently secretary of the board.
Salinas was born in DeLeon and raised in Dublin, Texas. He is a graduate from Dublin High School Class of 1998 and Tarleton State University.
Salinas has devoted much of his life to serving the Dublin community where he was raised. He is a member of the Dublin Lions Club and is a past president of the organizations. He is also involved with youth sports.
He currently works for Thompson Services.
Raymond is married to lifelong Dublin resident, Adrian Salinas. They have two children, Joe and Jaxon, who both attend Dublin ISD.
Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver has been a member of the Dublin School Board since 2008, with many of those spent as an officer. He currently serves as president of the board.
Weaver is a graduate of DeLeon High School and Tarleton State University.
He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1983 and married Lisa Hatley of Dublin in 1984.
While serving in the military, they had two children, Joey and Katie.
They returned home to Dublin whereupon both of their children attended Dublin school.
Lisa taught and served as principal for several years while Jeff served on the board.
Weaver also served twice on the Dublin City Council, and as a board member of the Erath County Appraisal District, representing the City of Dublin and Dublin ISD.
“I have spent my adult life serving in many capacities, and I would consider it an honor to serve the citizens, administration, teachers, and students of Dublin Independent School District,” Weaver said previously when running for the position.