First-time candidate Martinez bids for Pleasanton school board Area 5 seat

Pleasanton resident Brett Martinez launched his campaign for the Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees last weekend, almost one month after he pulled his candidacy papers and qualified for the ballot.

He will be going up against fellow newcomers Karen Fletcher and Thomas Choi for the Area 5 seat, which represents Vintage Hills and Hearst elementary schools, Pleasanton Middle School, and part of Foothill High’s attendance area. Current Area 5 Trustee Justin Brown did not seek reelection this fall.

“I am running because I believe I can bring a practical, thoughtful, and fiscally responsible voice to the board while helping protect what makes Pleasanton schools so strong,” Martinez said in a letter to the Pleasanton Weekly.

And while there might be questions left unanswered about his background and experience, one thing he made clear in his bid announcement was that he cares deeply about the future of PUSD and wants to help make sure Pleasanton schools “remain strong for years to come”.

“I am not running because I believe the district is broken,” he said. “I am running because keeping our schools strong requires planning ahead and being willing to address challenges before they become bigger problems.”

According to his letter, Martinez is a first-time candidate who runs a local home services business – although the Weekly has been unable to independently confirm his business to date. 

He said his professional background “taught me how to manage budgets, set priorities, work with people, and make difficult decisions responsibly”.

Apart from his business, Martinez said he has been involved in grassroots activism and volunteered on school board campaigns around California, giving him “valuable exposure to the challenges districts face and the responsibility that comes with serving on a school board”. Martinez did not clarify the specific campaigns with which he was involved.

While he did not answer questions about his personal life, Martinez said education was always very important to him growing up. He said he spent a lot of time at a Boys & Girls Club chapter both as a kid and later as a volunteer where he tutored math.

And while his career isn’t directly related to education, Martinez said he is running for the school board seat because his unique perspective allows him to “approach decisions objectively, ask questions when necessary, and focus on what is best for students, families, teachers, taxpayers, and the community as a whole”.

According to his website, one of Martinez’s priorities, if elected, is to bring “more transparency, accountability, and community involvement” to PUSD. 

“Parents should be treated as partners in their children’s education, teachers should have the support they need to succeed, and every decision should ultimately be focused on what is best for students,” he states on his website.

As far as the district’s finances, Martinez said one thing he would do, if elected, is focus more attention on declining enrollment by strengthening the district’s transitional kindergarten – which PUSD officials say they’ve already been doing over the past few years. 

He also said that he believes PUSD’s budget should be managed carefully and in a transparent manner and that if budget cuts are needed he will work on keeping those as far away from the classroom as possible.

“Teachers, instruction, and opportunities for students should be protected whenever we can,” Martinez said in his letter.

Some of his other priorities include “academic excellence, safe and supportive schools, strong parent involvement, and making sure students are prepared for whatever path they choose after graduation, whether that is college, a skilled career, Career Technical Education, entrepreneurship, or something else”.

For more information, visit Martinez’s website at www.brettforpusd5.com.

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