Texas School Board Candidates Advocate for Controversial Policies
Several candidates running for school board positions in Texas are advocating for policies considered by some as extreme, including book bans and actions against LGBTQ students.
Traditionally, school boards are responsible for administrative duties such as managing bus schedules and overseeing budgets. However, they have increasingly become arenas for heated social debates, partly driven by reactions to COVID-19 restrictions and Republican concerns regarding transgender issues.
Moms for Liberty, a national far-right organization, has been active in promoting its members for school board elections nationwide. This group was labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center in June 2023, as reported by NPR.
Corpus Christi Candidates
Michael Bergsma, a supporter of Moms for Liberty, is campaigning for an at-large seat in the Corpus Christi Independent School District. His campaign highlights his previous roles as treasurer of Bible in the Public Schools and chairman of the Nueces County Republican Party. Between 2013 and 2023, Bergsma posted several derogatory remarks about LGBTQ individuals on Facebook. In April 2013, he reacted to a news article about a gay couple, saying, “This is the future.” In July 2023, he criticized former President Barack Obama for opposing bans on LGBTQ-themed books in school libraries, calling it “disgusting.” Bergsma did not respond to inquiries about these statements.
Similarly, Samuel Fryer, another candidate for the Corpus Christi Independent School District, has shown support for Citizens Defending Freedom, a Christian group advocating for LGBTQ book bans. In July 2022, Fryer reportedly engaged with protesting teachers by sharing his religious beliefs and quoting scripture, according to a local news outlet.
Leander Independent School District Candidates
Gerald Prater, running for the Leander Independent School District, has been vocal about his opposition to LGBTQ content in schools. In a district meeting in June 2023, he described such content as “criminal,” stating, “I think you’re causing harm to my children and other children with some of the stuff you’re exposing them to.” Prater’s campaign has the endorsement of Moms for Liberty.
Brandi Burkman is also seeking a position with the Leander Independent School District. She has previously addressed the board regarding “obscene book selections.” In 2023, she expressed to a local high school newspaper that she withdrew her daughter from middle school over a lesson plan involving Black Lives Matter. In October 2022, Burkman shared a Facebook post about a right-wing hoax concerning schools allowing students to identify as cats. Moms for America, a group with similar aims to Moms for Liberty, has endorsed her.
Jim Sneeringer, another candidate for the Leander district, has propagated conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election being stolen from Donald Trump, as seen in a video clip.
Brownsville Independent School District Candidate
Minerva Peña, who served the Brownsville Independent School District from 2008 to 2023, is attempting to regain her seat. Like Bergsma, Peña has shared her political views on Facebook. In June 2023, she commented on a Fox News clip about a White House gay pride event, stating, “Please forgive me but, this does not belong at the White House.” She has also posted questions about the role of prayer and the Bible in public schools.
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