VIDEO: 'Pro-public schools' parents of different parties unite to run for Mesa school board
KPNX-TV 12News reporter Joe Dana (at right) talks with three candidates for Mesa’s School Board, who cooperatively represent differing ideological points of view: Independent candidate Lacy Chaffee (far left), Democrat Josh Chilton and Republican Courtney Davis.
KPNX-TV 12News
It would be difficult to find a ticket in any local race across Arizona that is made up of a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent.
But that is the case in Mesa where the state’s largest school district has three open seats on its board.
Republican Courtney Davis, Democrat Josh Chilton, and Independent Lacy Chaffee are running together on an agenda of civility and respect.
“We’re not going to always agree. But we can get things done for our students and do it in a respectful and kind way,” said Davis, the incumbent.
The candidates represent different neighborhoods and different backgrounds. They met after entering the race and decided to join forces with a “pro-public school” platform. That would seem like a given for any school board candidate. But these days it can be hard to tell.
A movement within Arizona’s Republican Party promotes private school vouchers, opposes some local bonds, and seeks to eliminate campus social workers. A host of nonprofits have also emerged since the pandemic that are largely funded by social conservatives. They focus on parental rights and allege schools have strayed from core responsibilities, even to the point of “indoctrinating” students.
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