When people fail to vote in these crucial races, the consequences can ripple through communities, affecting everything from public policy to the quality of daily life.

The consequences of this dynamic are profound. When misinformation dominates the discourse, it erodes trust in public institutions such as schools, libraries, and local governments.

Many city councils operate under a non-partisan framework, designed to prioritize problem-solving over political ideology. However, when extremist policies infiltrate these institutions, they undermine their ability to function effectively, disrupt community cohesion, and shift the focus from practical solutions to ideological battles.

In recent years, extreme-right candidates have increasingly pushed an agenda that undermines public education, seeking to defund schools, promote privatization, and prioritize ideological battles over student success.

The extreme-right’s weaponization of the term “woke” is a dangerous and divisive tactic that undermines the effectiveness of local governance. By focusing on manufactured cultural grievances, these candidates distract from real issues, erode public trust, and polarize communities.

When it comes to local government, many people are surprised to learn that most seats are non-partisan. This means that candidates for positions like city council, school board, or mayor don’t officially run under a specific political party.

In Part 1, I responded to the false claims that TVUSD and CA curriculum guidelines contain inappropriate content for our kids. Based on my my experience as the father of four kids in TVUSD schools what is actually covered in the “controversial” guidelines is:

• Age appropriate (nothing prior to 5th grade) sexual health education with parents access to all content and parents rights to opt their kids out if they choose.

• Creating safe learning environments for all students

• Learning about historically marginalized people

There have been accusations that the public schools teach inappropriate, sexualized, and pornographic material to kids as young as kindergarten. These claims are false. Those making these accusations claim teachers are indoctrinating and grooming children for nefarious purposes, and doing so secretly without parents knowledge or permission. Again, these claims are false. As of April 2024, this has culminated with the recall election of the board president, Dr. Joseph Komrosky, set for June 4.