Death threats, big money become part of Jeffco school board recall
Allegations of bullying, death threats part of increasingly partisan campaign in Jefferson County school board recall election
Death threats, allegations of bullying and fake social media accounts have all become part of the contentious school board recall election in Jefferson County, which is drawing large amounts of money and national attention.
The tension is rooted in philosophical differences about the use of charter schools, how teachers are paid and who should have access to free kindergarten. But, increasingly, the discussions have become about personal and partisan attacks.
"School boards were never meant to become a bully pulpit for politics," said Thomas Alsbury, a professor at Seattle Pacific University who researches school boards and district governance. "There's too much power and too much money involved now."
Campaign finance reports released this week show more than $450,000 has been raised by candidates and committees involved in the recall. But other organizations that act indirectly — including Americans for Prosperity, which supports the current board — do not have to file their spending. There are estimates that as much as $1 million already may have been spent on the recall.
Still, Alsbury says, the situation in Jefferson County is rare.
Tuesday's ballot includes a recall for three seats and a general election for the board's other two seats where members are not seeking re-election. If the recall is successful, the entire board for the state's second-largest school district could be new.
Ballotpedia, a nonprofit online publication that tracks elections and legislation, named theJefferson County school board election "the top election to watch" in the country this year — ahead of Louisiana's race for governor and Pennsylvania's filling of vacancies on its Supreme Death threats, big money become part of Jeffco school board recall - The Denver Post: