Author: standforfortworth

Stand for Fort Worth sent candidate questionnaires to incumbent school board member, Norm Robbins, and his challenger, Dr. Michael Ryan.  Norm Robbins did not respond. Dr. Michael Ryan’s Candidate Questionnaire is linked.

We were encouraged by many of Dr. Ryan’s responses including, “FWISD should have persons with female anatomy in girls’ restrooms and persons with male anatomy in boys’ restrooms.”  And this, “Family values means that the nuclear family unit is the main functioning entity within the community.  The strength and proper functioning of the family is the main factor for success, not only in school but also in life.”  Dr. Ryan’s answers to all of the questions are thoughtful and informed, and we encourage you to read them all.  Dr. Ryan has worked in public education for 36 years.  He is married with three adult children.  He has also earned the endorsement of teachers and the United Educators Association.

On the other hand, Norm Robbins failed parents and taxpayers by supporting Superintendent Scribner’s illegal transgender policy.  During his tenure, the District has gone from bad to worse.

Fort Worth ISD needs change.  It’s time to reject the Norm.  We recommend Dr. Michael Ryan for District 7.

Fort Worth ISD District 7 schools include:  Benbrook Elementary, Luella Merrett Elementary, Ridglea Hills Elementary, Waverly Park Elementary, Westpark Elementary, Applied Learning Academy, Benbrook Middle, Leonard Middle, Western Hills High School, International Newcomer Academy, and Middle Level Learning Center.

Women-owned businesses have historically been underutilized in Fort Worth and beyond. In fact, women-owned businesses have been so disadvantaged that the city, state and federal governments have passed laws and adopted rules to assist and incentivize women-owned businesses.  Federal requirements adopted in 1994 set a goal of awarding 5% of annual federal contracts to women-owned businesses.  In 2015 the federal government finally achieved its goal and awarded 5% of its $400 billion worth of yearly contracts to women-owned businesses.

Texas has similar types of state procurement goals.  And at a local level, the city of Fort Worth has a robust program to incentivize women-owned businesses.  City procurement processes and economic development agreements include goals to use women-owned businesses for between 15% and 25% of project costs depending on services.

The benefits of these laws are obvious. When the government sets rules to give advantages to certain groups, other groups are left out. Some may argue whether the government should set those rules in the first place.  That’s outside the scope of this argument.  The point here is if programs exist to benefit women-owned businesses, then it is economically advantageous to own a woman-owned business.

Women-owned business laws have always required businesses to prove the “owned” part of “woman-owned” but not the “woman” part.  Since these laws don’t require women to prove they are women, it’s only a matter of time before men will identify as women to secure monetary advantages.  By joining forces with LGBT groups to advance the transgender agenda, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce is undoing decades of women’s economic advancement.  We call on the Fort Worth Chamber to stop waging war on women.

We Stand for Fort Worth, and we stand for women.