Dustin Mason Announces Candidacy for GSISD School Board Member Seat

GRAND SALINE--The Grand Saline ISD School Board election was postponed this year due COVID, and was pushed to November 3, 2020. Early voting to start October 13 through October 30.
There are two seats at large in this School Board Election. The Candidates are Incumbents Bear Brown and Matt Strickland. Newcomers are Traci Kuntzman and Dustin Mason.
Dustin Mason is a new candidate this year in the running.
Mason’s Announcment reads:
My name is Dustin Mason, and I am seeking a position on the Grand Saline ISD Board of Trustees. Some will say that the odds are against me, because there are two incumbents running for two open positions. While I realize they both have deep roots in Grand Saline, I know my passion to serve my community and my desire to prepare a better future for OUR children runs much deeper. 
Throughout my life, I have given my time to many different organizations. As a young adult, I served as an officer for the Linden-Kildare ISD Band Booster Club. As a non-parent member of this board I was able to focus on decisions that would result in positive improvements for everyone. Continuing service to the community in my hometown, I worked for six years in various roles for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Cass County. These volunteer roles allowed me to bring awareness to my community and work with a team to reach a shared goal. As Event Chairman of the Relay for Life, my executive team and our volunteers raised over $120,000 two consecutive years for the American Cancer Society. At the time, Cass County was one of the top producing counties, per capita, in the state.
Together, my wonderful wife, Cassie Gray-Mason, and I chose Grand Saline as our home and as the community we want to raise our family. Cassie and I have three boys: Parker (10), Carter (6), and Asher (2). Like other parents, our lives are dedicated to our children, and we work daily to ensure that they will have the best opportunities in life. Since moving to Grand Saline, I have served as Committee Chairman and Den Leader for the Grand Saline Boy Scout Pack, am the current Precinct 1-B Chairman for the Republican Party of Van Zandt County, and I serve on the Van Zandt County Republican Party Executive Committee. I also serve the youth of our community on the Board of Directors of the Grand Saline Youth Foundation and am the Board Secretary. 
I work in the private sector for Allied Benefit Systems. Allied is a Third-Party Administrator for group funded health plans. We are basically an insurance company, but we offer custom benefit packages to employer groups who are looking for something a little different and more personalized. As the Assistant Manager of Claim Operations, I manage a team of professionals who work daily to ensure that we are managing the plans chosen by our clients while balancing ever changing federal and state legislation. My physical office is in Chicago, but I am blessed to work 100% virtually from my home.
My passion to serve is not driven by any certain agenda. As your representative on the Grand Saline ISD board, I will continue to focus on positive changes and improvements that impact everyone. I know I can leverage my passion to serve to find a great balance that helps develop the best environment for our children, while also representing the taxpayers of the school district. 

I would appreciate your vote in the upcoming 2020 election on November 3rd. 

Vote for OUR Children!
As with any election, the Grand Saline Sun offers free space to all candi- dates running for public office so voters will be the ballot. The Sun does not endorse any candidate in any election. We encourage all candidates to take advantage of this opportunity, and all voters to take this chance to familiarize themselves with these hopeful rep- resentatives. Your vote is your voice.