Eric Smith announced his candidacy on July 17 for Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education. What sets him apart is that he is the youngest candidate for office in this year's election in California at the age of 18.

Aside from his age, his policies separate him from the other candidates. Eric Smith is a new face for education.

The current board of education has a flawed educational strategy. It has voted in favor of allowing students to graduate high school without passing the general education requirement of algebra.

One of his focuses is instituting volunteerism at a young age. Under Eric Smith, Simi Valley would see students giving five hours a semester toward community improvement. This will instill respect and honor within the district.

Smith would also like to establish a class that focuses on local politics and current events. It is an undeniable fact that all politics start at a local level. This class will lead to a higher level of participation in the local community—something that is lacking in up-and-coming voters.

The current board also has been deficient in the area of fiscal responsibility. Four years ago, the voters of Simi Valley gave the board $165 million for the purpose of extracurricular facilities. Now, in 2008, there has been little progress. Eric Smith would introduce a proactive agenda as a member of the school board.

Eric Smith has been a proponent of firm drug prevention in schools. Many of the drug issues in the United States begin in our schools. Because of this, Eric Smith believes that the time has come to start a new path to a stricter drug policy in order to keep our schools safe.

Simi needs someone like Smith to help its educational system. Christopher Maciel Ventura