Samantha Schwartz Running for SAISD District 4

SAN ANGELO, TX — Samantha Ann Schwartz is running for the San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees in Single-Member District 4. A longtime law enforcement professional, Schwartz says her campaign is focused on transparency, fiscal accountability, and restoring trust between the school board and the community.

“I have been in law enforcement for the last close to 14 years, worked over at crime scene. I’ve worked in the fire marshal’s office, and I'm at the DA’s office now,” Schwartz said. “The reason I just had to run is because I kept hearing things and hearing people speak about things regarding the school district… the way they’re not being heard and some of their genuine concerns… that kind of bothered me. I don’t think that anybody should not be heard."

Schwartz said she believes the current board is dismissive of parent concerns.

“I’d rather be transparent than not. I’d rather just state it how it is,” she said. “You don’t get trust if you can’t answer a simple question without diverting it to something else or making them feel if they’re wrong for asking you that.”

On the proposed $397 million school bond, Schwartz was direct: “I am not in for the school bond at all. Straight up, I’m not for the school bond. And the reason I’m not for the school bond is because, one, we can barely afford to live right now. The economy is horrible… I think this is a horrible time for the bond to come around.”

Schwartz also criticized administrative salaries and said more funds should be directed toward teachers. “I don’t think some of the salaries of some of the people there should be what they are. I think teachers need to get a little bit more money.”

Pointing to past school closures and lingering maintenance costs, Schwartz added: “Are they actually keeping and maintaining these buildings up?"

Citing public safety concerns, she warned of risks posed by vacant campuses. “We have a high transient problem here. We had dangerous buildings when I was over at the fire marshal office… they’re going to go in there. They’re going to build their fires…”

Schwartz said that, if elected, she wants to examine spending records closely. “I’d love to look at the books. I would love to see where all the money’s going. I want to see what’s going where and who’s spending what.”

“If you want someone that’s going to be transparent, tell you the truth, whether you may like it or not, I’m definitely the person to vote for,” she said.

Schwartz is running against Ami Mizell-Flint in the May 3 election.