Llanes enters school board race

Special to the NEWS

Anna Llanes

Anna Llanes

Anna Garza Llanes, a Home Mortgage consultant of 15 years with a national financial institution and a home lending field worker for 28 years, has filed for the Place 2 post in the upcoming San Benito CISD School Board election.

She is a 1978 graduate of San Benito High School and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Education from the University of Pan American. She has been married to her husband of 30 years, Mike Llanes, and they have two sons; David, a college student and HEB employee and Michael, who works in retail and banking. They are both graduates of San Benito High School. She is the daughter of the late Guadalupe and Siria Garza. Her siblings are Homer Garza, Linda Alvarado, Sylvia Llanes, Nancy Duran, and Norma Torres.

Llanes said her commitment to the children of this community is evident in the clubs and organizations that she devotes her time to, including the Parental Involvement Afterschool Program, American Red Cross, United Way, Challenger Learning Center; and the San Benito High School Band Boosters.

She said her commitment also extends to the city in her capacity as board member of the Special Events Board, San Benito Round Table committee and the Resaca Fest committee. Over the years, Llanes has been appointed by the school board seeking recommendations from the public to various committees. Llanes, who said she is an advocate for resourced children, also said has been active in seeking equity for the rights of special education students through school/parental committees.

Llanes said, “The U.S. Supreme Court has said education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments, and I believe our system of local school districts and boards of education epitomize representative and participatory government. The school board trustees are citizens elected from our community to make decisions about educational programs based on community needs, values, and expectations. I believe that the San Benito school board has been entrusted by our citizens to translate the needs of our students into policies, plans, and goals that will be supported by the community in the best interest of our children.”

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2012/04/03/llanes-enters-school-board-race/

21 comments

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    • Richard on May 11, 2012 at 3:55 pm
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    Good luck to Mrs. Llanes and her team. We will be coming out to vote on Saturday. May the best qualified win. You all are in our prayers.

    • L.Garza on May 2, 2012 at 4:45 pm
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    We voted for Mrs. Lanes and her group. The shouting and yelling from the opponents as we approached the voting place was annoying not to mention rude. Isn’t there any rule against this type of behavior?

  1. To all commenting, please refrain from making criminal accusations involving cases in which no one was finally convicted in a court of law. Also, be mindful of the websites you’re citing. If you notice, I’ve already edited your comments to reflect this.

    Thank you.

    • Armadillo on April 13, 2012 at 8:13 am
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    Again I say, everyone read the article about Dr. Smetter. No where does it say she was fired. When a supt. loses favor with a new school board, it is customary to terminate that supt. No charges were filed against her. She probably had a difference of opinion with the board. The reason I continue to compare the Smetter situation to that of Joe D. Gonzalez is so people can see that in one, a supt. was fired without specific reason in the other, he was suspended for what I believe was criminal activity. Another thing, after her termination, Dr. Smetter has been able to resume her career at an assistant supt. level while Joe D. Gonzalez has never been able to find another supt. or assistant supt. job. Why? Because he had a history unlike Smetter. Stay focused. Very simple to understand.

    • jade robertson on April 12, 2012 at 2:04 pm
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    Mr. Armadillo, I agree with you, if it is there in black and white then it is there.
    However – the Priority is the IMPROVING the SBCISD and I strongly urge all the Parents, Taxpayers and Voters of San Benito to ask questions about these candidates working history, which each and every citizen of SB are entitled to know and have every right to do so. The FACT remains the same-Dr. Smetter was FIRED as Superintendent from Santa Maria and now is employed as an –
    Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Armadillo this is called public knowledge, stay focus, it is Dr. Smetter who is running for school board and you want to astray from her past working history by directing your comments to an ex-superintendent that is in another totally separate election race-Now that is no comparison. If you are so displease then express you concerns at the CIty Elections which you are entitle to do so. You know us poor folks here might not all be educated as yourself, but we do know right from wrong.

    • Jesus Saldana on April 12, 2012 at 1:24 pm
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    Thank you for sharing Armadillo. I rest my case. There is no comparison here. Dr. Smetter and Mrs. Llanes will make a great addition to the school board. I will sure tell my friends and family to vote May 12th.

    • jade robertson on April 12, 2012 at 6:51 am
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    The focus here is about improving the SBCISD District and this is plain dirty, intentional malice comments. The comment was about control, and some else brings in an ex-superintendent name which I see no relevance since HE is not running for SBCISD School Board. I believe some of you are refusing to accept and answer the questions about Dr. Wilma Garza-Smetter and are desperately trying to avoid the real working history of Dr. Smetter.
    Well I for one, agree 100% with Armadillo that it is all there in Black and White so let me enlighten you, just click on the website just read about Dr. Smetter-(VMSTAR: Santa Maria Superintendent Smetter terminated) and CLICK BELOW
    http://www.valleymorningstar.com/articles/maria-90008-santa-terminated.html

      • Armadillo on April 12, 2012 at 9:53 am
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      Hey Jade, I read the article about Dr. Smetter. No where does it say that she conducted herself inappropriately. No where does it say she was being investigated. No where does it say that the FBI was brought in. No where does it say that a complaint against her was made with the Dept. of Justice, which, by the way, is still pending with the Texas Supreme Court. No where does it say that all of the evidence against her was sent to TEA and that for that reason she was fired. She lost her job because the board changed. No comparison. Get real. I urge the public to read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Independent_School_District or just Google Donna Independent school district and go into the Wikipedia web site. Read all the reference articles at the end and judge for yourself.

  2. Well Mr. Saldana I guess I will leave the crying to you talk about moving on ..haha Look who you are talk about here do you recall that she was also terminated from Santa Maria and was also CRYING FOR HER JOB BACK…@Armadillo & Saldana if you two gentlemen know what I know you would not be saying what you all don’t even know. Belive me I feel sorry for the tax payer of this district ..What it does to me really nothing I don’t even belong to this district I only say What I saw and know how they work in San Benito ……..

    • El Lobo on April 11, 2012 at 9:44 pm
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    Right on, brother!

    • Jesus Saldana on April 11, 2012 at 12:43 pm
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    Guess Who is obviously one the ex-business office employees who cried for Joe D. Gonzalez and made fool out of themselves with t-shirts on TV when he was terminated back in 2005.. The man even cried on tv himself like big baby! Please don’t compare rotten apples to good apples. Joe D. Gonzalea left San Benito and Donna in shame unlike Dr. Smetter who decided to move on from Santa Maria ISD. Santa Maria lost a great superintendents and now she has moved on to Mercedes and still works in education. So yes do your homework Guess who! Boy does ignorace feed ignorance! I’m voting for Mr. T, Llanes and Smetter. Let’s all do the same!

    • Armadillo on April 11, 2012 at 11:22 am
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    Whoever wants to know the real reasons that Joe D. Gonzalez got suspended from Donna, just check out the web site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Independent_School_District or simply Google Donna School District and get into the Wikipedia web site. You will really be educated about Joe D. Be sure to check out all the References at the end of the article…they are in-depth articles about Joe D.’s shinanagins while in Donna. I invite our Editor to check them out too— makes a good article. So, Joe D. can continue to claim that he was released by a new board, but in reality he was suspended. Its all there in black and white. Just open your eyes and read!!!

  3. Well who do you think handles the money ? Everything goes before Limon. He is the one that needs to be let go. And again Yes it is a cover up so the control can stay there . Yes I agree that there has to be majority that is why Look around. Who is the one that will vote on you when you have to go deal with them. Try it.Oh by the way Iam very well educated don’t need your help to do my home work I worked at the business office for little over five years. I knows what goes on belive me Watch Out. It’s like this “You better ” “You better not vote yes or no” depending on what it is. You do for me I do for you .If you taxpayers knew what I knew . Oh by the way one question Why was Smetter fired from Santa Maria school district ? Now you do your Home work. I have that is why I had to leave this Dirty district my god people you all need to let go of all that favoritism in you’ll district.Thank God I am not from you’ll district and that is why I left dirty dirty district. Glad Iam not there anymore . Oh by way you all do know that the money from taxpayers may go already to the Smetters they sell lots of material from there company to the district . So know do you understand now . Like I said ” You do for me and I will do for you”……. Now what ? Do I still need more home work… I think the one that needs it is you.. dig dig and you will find out more cause belive me there is a lot more…

      • Armadillo on April 10, 2012 at 9:58 am
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      Its real easy for someone like “guess who” to make accusations on paper without having to face someone. The bottom line is that the three people who are running, Tumberlinson, Llanes, Smetter, are doing so with the highest credentials. If you want to talk about how a superintendent controls money, then talk about the former supt., Joe D. Gonzalez. He wrote the book on cover-ups. Now he is running for city commissioner and hopes to get his hands in that cookie jar. Heaven help San Benito.

      1. @Armadillo well well please its like this he wanot let go for that I was there when it happen. So now answer thr big question Why was Smetter FIRED FROM THE SANTA MARIA DISTRICT ….LORD PLEASE HELP THIS DISTRICT…

    • that_one_guy on April 6, 2012 at 10:33 pm
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    Hey guess who,what is this a cover up of?And there is no omnipotent power of the school board or superintendent as you are suggesting.The school board has to have a majority vote and 3 does not equal 7. Next time you are going to make an uneducated statement,do your homework.

    • Common Sense on April 6, 2012 at 8:00 pm
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    Control? So why is another Huerta running for school board? Wouldn’t that be to have control if she gets elected? Not about finances?? Last time I checked the district is running on a $97 Million Dollar Budget. You bet we need people who know about finances! I simply don’t trust the Huerta-Rodriguez-Aguilera group with my taxpayer money. A college student with no experience handling our taxpayer money is simply crazy in my opinion. You have my vote Mrs. Llanes!

  4. Well its not how much you know or about finances we talking here about school.
    All this is a cover up so they can have all the control as Mr. Limon as it now.

    • DelaSera on April 5, 2012 at 10:45 am
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    Count on me as well. Good credentials along with Dr. Smetter. Hope they win.

    • Armadillo on April 4, 2012 at 6:25 pm
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    I agree with Mr. Saldana. Mrs. Llanes is an educated person who has dealt with finances for over 25 years and knows the importance of finances related to taxes and school districts. My family and friends are supporting her.

    • Jesus Saldana on April 4, 2012 at 1:22 pm
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    Good luck in your election Mrs. Llanes! You are the type of person we need on the school board. You have all our votes.

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