I doubt very much that I am alone in my increased frustration with a political climate at the local, state and national levels which features attack ads, personal insults and reliance on false issues which polarize and divide the electorate.

It seems that the way to get elected today is to use the "low road" to demonize the others who are running against you instead of standing on one's own platform of ideas and policy perspectives. I suggest that all elections this November, but particularly our community's school board election, should take a "higher road" and determine our preferences for candidates based upon one factor: who will best serve the interests of our students in the years ahead.

I believe that anyone in these complex times who commits to running for a school board position should be commended for their civic responsibility. Further, I believe that all of the candidates for the Conejo Valley Unified School District deserve our appreciation and respect, but three of these individuals deserve our vote as well.

Mrs. Pat Phelps, Dr. Tim Stephens and Mrs. Peggy Buckles are three of the finest candidates for public office I have ever known. Each has a demonstrated track record of decades of service to the youth in our community. To me that counts for something.

Phelps and Stephens have provided solid leadership as school board members in CVUSD and helped to build our school system into one of the most respected in the state. Buckles has similarly served our students in many important parent/volunteer roles in the PTA and other key organizations.

I am voting for these three highly dedicated community members based upon my belief that the best indicator of future success is past success. Today's very good school system in our community will continue to become better each and every year ahead if we elect a cadre of school board members who have a laserlike focus on addressing the needs of all students in our school system. I believe that Phelps, Stephens and Buckles have such focus and are the right leaders for our vote this coming election. Robert Fraisse Newbury Park

Fraisse is the former superintendent of CVUSD.