Tom Shimizu, former Salt Lake County Commissioner, Endorses Cromar

M. Tom Shimizu and his wife, Junko, endorse Kevin Cromar for school board. Tom Shimizu, former Salt Lake County Commissioner and candidate for U. S. Congress, in his endorsement stated:

"Kevin Cromar, a bright, energetic, tireless proponent for excellent education. He gets things done."

Kevin Craig Cromar Campaigns at Political Caucuses

Kevin Craig Cromar took his grassroots campaign for school board to the voters attending the political caucuses Tuesday evening March 25, 2008. He visited and talked to several voters in the 31 voter districts in Precinct 3. He was the only school board candidate running for Precinct 3 to do so. He visited both the Republican and Democratic caucuses. Below are photos of some of these campaign visits:

Republican Voter Districts 4738 and 4790 held in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Kevin Cromar meeting with voters at Democratic political caucuses for several voter districts held at Brookwood Elementary.

Republican caucus in Voter District 4677 meeting and talking with the candidate.

Kevin Cromar giving campaign literature to an interested voter at the Democratic political caucuses held at Brookwood Elementary.

Republican caucus in Voter District 4682

Alan K. Engen, Son of Ski Legend Alf Engen, Endorses Cromar

"Kevin Cromar has my endorsement as a person of high character, proven leadership ability, deep commitment to the community, and an extensive knowledge of the rich history pertaining to the Wasatch front near Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. His past leadership, which includes two terms in the Utah House of Representatives, and a career in the Utah National Guard as a Chinese linguist in the Military Intelligence, well qualifies him for board member consideration. In 1984 Kevin received the Utah Education Association Honor Roll Award as 'the non-educator in Utah making the greatest contribution to education.' I certainly believe that Mr. Cromar would make an outstanding addition to the school board in his district. My wife Barbara taught in the Jordan District in past years. She recognizes Kevin Cromar's wife, Cathy, and her many contributions to education."
- Alan K. Engen

The photo above: Alan Engen and Kevin Cromar at the Alta Club February 19, 2008.

Alan Engen, named one of the Legends of Utah Skiing in 1988, has been involved with skiing for almost sixty years. He is the author of the award-winning books, "First Tracks: A Century of Skiing in Utah," and "For the Love of Skiing: A Visual History," and is chairman and president of the Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation, chairman and President of the Alta Historical Society.

Announcing My Candidacy

Kevin Craig Cromar, resident of Cottonwood Heights, announces his candidacy for the new Jordan East School Board in Precinct 3 representing the southeast corner of Cottonwood Heights, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta, Granite, and the northeast part of Sandy (includes Canyon View Elementary, Brookwood Elementary, Granite Elementary, Park Lane Elementary, Quail Hollow Elementary, and Albion Middle schools).

He is a former state legislator, having served two terms in the Utah House of Representatives from 1982 to 1986. He served on the Public Education Appropriations Committee. As a state legislator, Cromar successfully sponsored several education bills, including reducing class size and increasing funding for textbooks. In 1984 he was given the UEA Honor Roll Award as a non-educator who made the greatest contribution to education in the State of Utah. Upon receiving the award, Cromar was told that it had been a decision between former Governor Scott Matheson and him.

Cromar says his focus as a member of the new school board will be strengthening public education. He was opposed to the school voucher bill. He noted that “educators are required to do more and more for less and less.” The teacher morale is low with teacher shortages and a high 10 to 15 percent turnover. Money needs to be put into the classroom and not administration costs. It is time that the legislature gives back educational local control to local school boards and stop acting as the super board of education. He strongly opposes the proposal creating a three-member state school board selected jointly by the governor and the legislature, limiting local school board authority, and taking away local control. Cromar believes educational governance is best when it is closest to the people and elected by the people. Cromar supports the rigorous, proven National Board Certification and is against the proposal by the legislature to adopt the unproven and non-standard American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE).

Cromar has an Economics degree and MBA from BYU. He was a Project Management professor and consultant at universities in China. He is a retired military veteran, having served 20 years in the Utah National Guard 142^nd Military Intelligence and Linguist Battalion as a Chinese linguist warrant officer. He was a volunteer for the 2002 Winter Olympics as an athlete driver. Cromar is currently the chairperson for Cottonwood Heights City Historical Committee.

His wife, Cathy Cromar, is an educator of 21 years in the Jordan School District, teaching sixth and fifth grades at Cottonwood Heights Elementary, Draper Elementary, and Welby Elementary. They are the parents of five children and have five grandchildren.

Cottonwood Heights Historical Committee Officially Appointed by City Council

On October 30, 2007 (day before Halloween - how auspicious) the Kevin Cromar appeared before the Cottonwood Heights City Council. The nine-member committee he organized was officially approved by Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore, Jr. and the City Council. Members on the committee: M. Tom Shimizu (former Salt Lake County Commissioner), Dr. Ronald G. Coleman (professor of history at U of U and member of Utah Board of State History), Melt Stelter (author of book on history of poverty flats; recipient of Mayors Humanities Award; history teacher at Evergreen Jr. High 32 years), David A. Hales (librarian at Westminster College and author of several Utah State Historical Society Quarterly articles), Gayle Conger (owner of one of the two sites in Cottonwood Heights on the National Historic Register - Alvin Reuben and Annie Green home on Danish Road), Sylvia Orton (former regional PTA president and employee of Deseret News), Jerri Harwell (African-American historian - has delighted audiences with her portrayal of Jane Manning James, an early black Mormon convert), and Karen Forbush Larrabee (family history expert - her Forbush ancestors' land is the Union Pioneer Cemetery).

Councilman Don Antczak presenting appointment resolutions to Cottonwood Heights Historical Committee members.