Press Release
County Board of Education Campaign going the way of Sweetwater?
Threats, Bullying, and Money Poisoning Race for County Board
The San Diego County Board of Education campaign in North County’s Fifth District took an unfortunate and nasty turn recently with threats of mudslinging and special interest money from the American Federation of Teachers.
“This Union, which represents no members employed by the County Board of Education is trying to bully and spend its way into power,” states Doug Perkins candidate for the Fifth District on the County Board of Education. Perkins wondered, “with no members, no paychecks, no contracts or pensions at stake, why would this labor group spend $75,000 and more to buy this election?”
Today, the Perkins campaign released an e-mail he received (posted below), just after filing to run for the open seat on the board. The e-mail came from Jim Mahler, head of the American Federation of Teachers. In the email he referenced negative attributes of Perkins and his small business and threatened, “why [Perkins] would choose to run … knowing full well the voters will be made aware.”
This past week, Mahler made good on his threat by financing negative ads disparaging candidate Perkins. “North County voters are smart, care about our kids and schools and will reject special interests that bully and strong-arm their way to power” declared Perkins. “The future of our education system and our students is too important to let these Union bosses push through their agenda and why I, along with my wife and family, choose to stay in this race and not give in to bullying.”
Doug Perkins has been a resident of North County for 30 years. His three children all attended public schools in the Fifth District. Perkins currently serves on the Del Mar Union School District Board, an Award Winning District!
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Doug Perkins for School Board 2014
County Office of Education
District 5
voteperkins.com
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Email from Mahler…
From: Jim Mahler [mailto:aftjim@mac.com]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 1:18 PM
To: dperkins@dmusd.org; pgg@pacgateway.com
Subject: San Diego County Board of Education Seat
Dear Mr. Perkins,
As educators who have historically been heavily involved in electoral campaigns for the County Board of Education, we are interested in learning more regarding your motivation to run for a seat on the County Board of Education.
It would seem to us that with such negative news stories such as this in your background, in addition to you easily being portrayed as a paid Sacramento lobbyist, that you would instead choose to remain on the Del Mar Board where there apparently does not exist much concern regarding these negative attributes.
It’s very perplexing to us why you would choose to run for such a position knowing full well that voters will be made aware of these issues during a campaign. If you would like to respond via email or meet to discuss we would welcome that opportunity. I can be reached at 619-640-1155 or aftjim@mac.com.
Sincerely,
Jim Mahler, President
American Federation of Teachers Guild, Local 1931