To: Steffenhagen, Janet (Vancouver Sun) 
Subject: "Feisty and popular" 

Good evening, Janet. I've only had time just now to read your story on the C-G's report on the VSB. It definitely provokes some worthwhile questions about the long term strategy for boards of education. A line near the end of your story caught my attention as it gave a personal assessment of Chair Patti Bacchus, referring to her as "feisty and popular". Could you explain what you base this opinion on?

Thanks for your ongoing coverage of these important issues.

Best regards.

Mike Klassen


from Steffenhagen, Janet (Vancouver Sun) <JSteffenhagen@vancouversun.com>
to mike@citycaucus.com
subject Re: "Feisty and popular"

Hi Mike.

Bacchus topped the polls when elected in 2008 and got a standing ovation in a packed high-school gymnasium on a sunny Sunday afternoon last month. I don't know any other school-board chair who could get that kind of response.

The word feisty could be based on her reaction to the report but is, rather, based on years of interviewing her on a range of topics.

Janet