Despite appearances to the contrary, I do not believe John Sutherland sees his involvement as an Abbotsford Board of Education trustee for the last twenty-four years as a second career path to parallel his long term professional vocation as a Business professor, School of Business Dean, and
Academic Vice-President.

As a former Abbotsford School Board trustee whose nine-year tenure overlapped with John's, as well as a professorial colleague with him at Trinity Western University for a number of years, I have had extensive opportunity to observe him in action. He combines excellent communication skills with an in-depth, perceptive understanding of the important role the Board of Education plays in fostering the educational excellence that the Abbotsford school system is so well known for.

Frankly, I am amazed at John's admirable willingness to continue his "trusteeship" with the Abbotsford Board for yet another term. One thing is certain. His learning curve about what's involved will be very short! And his wonderful sense of humour will serve as an effective means to relieve the frequent tedium of Board deliberations about budgets, boundaries, and buses, etc.

I commend him unreservedly as a candidate for re-election, on November 19th, as an Abbotsford Board of Education trustee.