President Lois Parrott a "No Show" At School District Debate

Rather than face a challenger for her DISD board seat, School Board President Lois Parrott opted for an absence.  In her place she sent her lawyer, Norton Rosenthal, to answer her questions and sent her husband, Bruce, to snap pictures of teachers and PTA members in the small group gathered at Dallas Academy Tuesday evening.

According to Rosenthal, Parrott had a conflict that prevented her attendance.  "She is available by cel phone if we need to ask her something," Rosenthal said.

But the entire event has been marred by a recent set of interesting circumstances.

The Bryan Adams PTA originally planned the event for April 25 at Bryan Adams High School.  Less than a week before the event was to have taken place, the principal informed the PTA that the debate violated DISD policy and cancelled the organization's plans to use the High School.

"It's hogwash," said one PTA member.  "Edwin Flores [another board trustee] held his forum under the very same policy and it seemed to be legal for him."

Indeed, several people were puzzled as to why the event was cancelled so suddenly after being on the books for weeks.  Others called into question Parrott's motives for missing the meeting.

"Give me a break," said one person, "her whole campaign staff is here; minus her."

So while Ellis answered questions, Rosenthal flipped through a stack of papers looking for the way he claimed Parrott would have answered them.  In the end, however, District 3 voters had more questions than answers.

"I would have liked to see how [Parrott] would have answered her own questions -- not just her attorney putting the words in her mouth again!" 

[THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING] 

[Editor's note: We're not going to cover the questions and answers from the debate since one candidate was missing. If we want to know what someone's lawyer thinks, we'll ask him or her. We're much more interested in the candidates' answers.]