Most of the election news dominating the headlines these days has focused on the various congressional primary races playing out across the nation. That’s understandable since the control of Congress (and the future of Joe Biden’s agenda) will be on the line in November. But in Florida on Tuesday, a lot of other elections were decided that barely merited a mention in the local newspaper, though they really should be featured more prominently. We’re talking about the elections determining the members of local school boards in nearly every public school district. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made those elections a priority and he went around the state this year offering endorsements to pro-family candidates who promised to break the liberal monopoly held over so many districts. That work paid off in a big way this week. More than 75% of the candidates that DeSantis endorsed ended up winning their seats or moving forward to a runoff vote later this year. (Washington Examiner)
Twenty-five out of 30 school board candidates in Florida endorsed by state Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) either won their elections Tuesday night or advanced to a runoff.
The slate of school board candidates backed by the Republican governor prevailed in the vast majority of races, including in Miami-Dade County, where two DeSantis-backed candidates handily won their races.
DeSantis had touted his endorsement of the candidates as an extension of his education agenda, which to date has included a slew of legislative actions that have expanded civics education, defined parental rights, banned critical race theory, and, most infamously, prohibited classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation before fourth grade.
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There are plenty of areas where the “big picture” matters and control of Congress (and the White House) is vital. Think of immigration, foreign policy, military posture, etc. There’s not much taking place at the local level that heavily impacts those aspects of the government. But on many equally important matters, the real power is found at the local level. School boards are one of the best examples of this.
School board members can have hands-on control over things including the selection of textbooks and curriculums all the way up to decisions as to which teachers stay and which are sent packing. The only reason we’re seeing so many public schools pushing CRT or hiding inappropriately sexualized material for young children is that the school boards allow it or even encourage it. Even in relatively conservative school districts, these patterns emerge if only progressives and liberals bother running for seats on the school board and take an interest. Having parents who support parental rights over the progressive agenda taking charge of school district policy is only way to turn these situations around.
To a lesser but still important degree, the same can be said for getting conservatives out there running for seats on the village, town, and city councils where they live. Most major legal questions will be settled at the state and federal levels, it’s true. But local governments have the ability to determine things such as how stringently various laws will be enforced, how well funded your local police department will be, and how state and federal funding is spent at the local level.
There’s an old saying in conservative circles that informs us that the government at the level closest to the people is the best suited to govern. It’s absolutely true, and I think too many of us have lost sight of that fact as we focus on the circus inside the Beltway. Ron DeSantis has set a great example this year and more people should emulate him.
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