Local Parent Group Interviews School Board Candidates

A local grassroots parent group is utilizing Facebook and the internet to reach out to parents and voters prior to the November Huron Valley School Board of Education election.

KNOW Before You Go is a group of five Huron Valley School District parents who have made it their mission to bring election information to "busy parents and community members."

Their website states, "The purpose of this website is to give... unbiased access to the candidates running for school board November 8, 2011. Because the candidates we elect will sit on the board for a 5 year term, it's never been more important to know your candidate."

Over the past month, the group has interviewed Jeff Long, Kim Galbraith, Joe Ghislain and Karen Wallis. The group's site states the remaining five candidates either declined the interview or didn't respond to the invitation. Utilizing Facebook, their website and YouTube, these tapped interviews have been posted for anyone to view.

In August, to run in the November election. Those candidates are:

• Robert Artinian, White Lake
• Xuan Avallone, Milford
• Bonnie Brown (incumbent), Milford
• Kim Galbraith, Milford
• Joe Ghislain, Milford
• Russ Krawczyk, Commerce
• Kevin Lawrence, Milford
• Jeffrey Long, White Lake
• Karen Wallis, Highland

Both seats are five-year terms that would run until 2016.

In September, the Oakland Area League of Women Voters published its voter guide for the race and held a candidate forum that's currently being televised on Huron Valley's basic cable station daily at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.