Re “$20,000 — A Goldberg Campaign Goal”
The Goldberg for School Board campaign may be like no other that Culver City has seen.
No contemporary authority can remember when a Culver City teacher of such recent vintage — she retired a month and a half ago — ever competed for the Board.
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From left, Ms. Goldberg is surrounded by School Board member Karlo Silbiger, City Councilman Chris Armenta and School Board member Steve Gourley.
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Dr. Luther Henderson and his wife, Prof. Patricia Siever of the School Board, with Ms. Goldberg.
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Ms. Goldberg addresses supporters at the Bauer home in Culver Crest. At left is campaign co-chair Stephen Schwartz. Photos by Ron Petersen.
And so when Nancy Goldberg stepped to an invisible podium late Sunday afternoon at the Michael and Judy Bauer home in Culver Crest, wishing she had not been holding an invisible microphone, calls went out from the assembled to speak louder.
For all of the entrepreneurs in the backyard of the Bauers, no one could find a microphone vendor roaming the hills above the city, leaving the entire full-throated task to the able, modest Goldie, as she is known.
In a rather stark departure from chest-pounding candidates pleading for votes, Ms. Goldberg opened by saying that “I would much rather have my students up here speaking on my behalf. They are more eloquent than I am.
“The essence of a School Board member,” she said, “is to recognize that you are really only one of five. And that puts things in a very different perspective. I am not going to undergo a grand personality change and become a tyrant.
The Same Me
“Likely as not, what I have done my whole life,” said the 42-year teaching veteran, “will become my whole message, my modus operandi.
“Empathy, caring, concern — listening when people tell you things, and not foregoing anyone’s importance as more than someone else’s.”
Ms. Goldberg says she prefers one-on-one settings. “I like to talk about children,” she said, “but for now I am going to tell you about myself.
“I am a community member. I wouldn’t just move into a district and run for the School Board. You have to get to know a community. While I am very good as a teacher, those skills are not what I am going to bring to the School Board.
A Time to Listen and Hear
“I am going to bring a set of deep-listening gifts because people don’t tend to listen. I want that to become identified with me.
“Everybody has a side, and everybody has the right to express that side. So that is what I want to do, to listen to everybody. But I have no illusions. There are things I feel strongly about.
“However, I am also hoping I will form conduits for certain people in the community. As I spoke to many of you, I said ‘May I ask you for advice? May I ask for issues that are bothering you?’
“That is the kind of attitude I hope to bring to the School Board. I don’t go in thinking I have everything figured out. I have no agenda.”
And then Ms. Goldberg greatly magnified her voice and repeated, “I have no agenda,” which drew a chuckle.
“But I sure would like to be on the School Board to learn more, to stay in the loop with kids.
“When they bring those little kids in and give them awards at School Board meetings, it’s such a thrill.
“And I know I always will have that feeling.
“I just hope I can convince you to support me.”
Ms. Goldberg may be contacted at goldberg4ccusd@yahoo.com
