ENDORSEMENT: Keep Manacmul on the school board
Serving on a school board means accepting responsibility for the opportunities available to thousands of children. It requires an understanding of the community, the skills to make difficult decisions and a commitment to putting students first.
Joseph Manacmul brings those qualities to the Downey Unified School District Board of Education. The Downey Patriot endorses him for election in Trustee Area 7.
Since his appointment last year following the death of longtime trustee Barbara Samperi, Manacmul has demonstrated that he wants the position for the right reasons: to ensure Downey students have access to the best possible education.
Since his appointment last year following the death of longtime trustee Barbara Samperi, Manacmul has demonstrated that he wants the position for the right reasons: to ensure Downey students have access to the best possible education.
That purpose should guide every school board member. The work requires careful decisions about budgets, facilities, personnel and educational opportunities, all with consequences for children and families. It demands preparation, sound judgment and a willingness to work with others.
Manacmul brings those qualities to the job.
He is a parent with children in the district. His wife is a Downey educator. The decisions made at the board table affect his own family, giving him a direct stake in the quality of our schools and an understanding of the concerns parents bring to them.
His connection to Downey also extends well beyond his household. A lifelong resident, he attended Ward Elementary, South Middle and Downey High schools. He understands the opportunities a Downey education can provide because he benefited from them himself.
He went on to graduate from UCLA and earn a master’s degree in public policy from Pepperdine University, with a focus on state and local governance. His professional background includes business, technology, operations and strategic planning. Those skills are valuable on a board responsible for overseeing a complex public institution and spending taxpayer dollars responsibly.
He is educated, experienced and qualified.
Just as important, his community involvement predates his appointment. As director of operations at Stay Arts, which operated Stay Gallery, Manacmul helped support a space for creativity, arts education and community participation. He also served on campaign committees for school improvement Measures O and K.
His commitment to young people and public education was established long before he sought a seat on the board.
The breadth of his support reflects that history. Manacmul is endorsed by all five Downey City Council members, the Downey Education Association, CSEA Units 1 and 2, and former mayors Kirk Cartozian, Mario Guerra and Fernando Vasquez. He also has the backing of fellow school board trustees.
Endorsements alone do not establish someone’s fitness for office. But support from people who work in our schools, serve our residents and know this community deserves consideration. They have different responsibilities and perspectives, yet have reached the same conclusion about Manacmul’s ability to serve.
We share that confidence.
His time on the board has been relatively short, and voters should continue to expect accountability, independent judgment and a clear focus on students. His appointment gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his approach to leadership. He has earned the chance to continue that work with the voters’ mandate.
Trustee Area 7 needs a representative who understands Downey, values its schools and recognizes the responsibility that comes with helping shape children’s futures.
We urge voters to keep Joseph Manacmul on the Downey school board.