Incumbent school board member D. Mark Morris announced he is running for re-election to the Downey Board of Education.

First elected to the school board in 1982, Morris represents Trustee Area 6 in southeast Downey.

“I believe that our children deserve the best and that means the best teachers, administrators, principals, support staff, facilities, technology and instruction that our budget will support,” Morris said. “As a result of our being able to employ the best teachers, when the Covid-19 hit, iPads were issued to all students and our teachers and staff were able to transition to a distance learning model for the rest of the school year.

“Additionally, Downey was one of only a few districts that provided its students with two meals - breakfast and lunch - throughout the school year, and into the summer, courtesy of our great food service staff.”

In a news release announcing his re-election campaign, Morris pledged to “maintaining a strong fiscal position, balanced budget, completing all the modernization projects at our schools and working collaboratively with our union partners.”

Morris said he “never support layoffs or furlough days in salary negotiations” and “will continue to advocate for strong academics including expanding the Advanced Placement (AP) program, Career/Technical Education, STEAM classes, and Global Language Academics of Downey.”

Morris also supports community-based English tutoring, parent advisory groups and the PTA.

Morris touts early endorsements from former city councilman and school board member Donald LaPlante and the Downey Educational Association, along with Jim Mogan, John Torres, Elvin Galindo, Angie Rademaker, Abraham Lopez, Dean and Martha Michael, and Lois Buchanan.

Morris attended Downey schools and graduated from Downey High Schools. He has an AA degree from Cerritos College, a BA degree from Cal State Fullerton and a JD degree from Western State University College of Law. He worked in municipal government for 34 years, retiring as a housing planner for the city of Downey.

Morris, who also speaks Spanish, is married to his wife, Pam, a retired teacher from Gauldin Elementary. They have six children, including a daughter who taught at Sussman Middle School. They have five grandchildren, three of which attend Carpenter Elementary.