Saturday 5/12 UPDATE: Go to the Ruth in the News page to see all the letters to the editor!

Today's Oregonian includes a re-endorsement of Ruth Adkins for Zone 1, as well as the following letter to the editor (and be sure to check out yesterday's letter to the editor, "Adkins would serve well"; and UPDATE- see below for Randy Leonard's Thursday 5/10 letter!):

Best for district: Adkins

In the wake of Vicki Phillips' abrupt resignation announcement, Portland parents and students have become acutely aware of the issues that will face her successor. Among them, the none-too-trivial tasks of completing Phillips' massive, half-finished K-8 reconfiguration, and implementing a common curriculum in the classrooms.

The next superintendent is going to need a lot of help, and that is going to mean enlisting the energy and enthusiasm from the diverse communities that make up Portland Public Schools, but this will also be no easy task.

Many parents and students were none too pleased with the manner in which Phillips' sweeping changes were handled over the past couple of years, and with most of those changes still in need of resolution, some have become understandably jaded.

Portland Public Schools needs to prove to the public that it knows how to listen, and right now the best thing that could happen to the school district would be to have Ruth Adkins on the school board.

A founder of the Neighborhood Schools Alliance and PTA president, Adkins knows what it means to engage the community in the process and understands that a cookie-cutter approach is not right for this city. Her input would be critical in helping to find an effective superintendent.

JASON BASKIN Northeast Portland

UPDATE: here is Randy Leonard's Oregonian letter to the editor in support of Ruth, published 5/10/07:

Adkins a creative leader

I am very appreciative of The Oregonian's endorsement of Ruth Adkins for the Portland School Board. Adkins would bring strong leadership and creative ideas to the board. I am looking forward to working with her as a partner in the city's efforts to plan for the future and to preserve and enhance the livability of Portland.

Adkins is committed to working collaboratively to ensure that all children have quality schools and that Portland remains a family-friendly city. I urge my fellow Portlanders to vote for Ruth Adkins.

RANDY LEONARD City commissioner Southeast Portland