Virginia school board elections face a pivotal moment as a cozy corner of democracy turns toxic
Associated Press
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Dale Swanson, chair of the Spotsylvania County GOP, displays an official GOP sample ballot she was handing out at an early voting location in Fredericksburg, Va., on Oct. 17, 2023, while lamenting a campaign that is seeing "dirty tricks being played all over the place." She and Democrats alike were upset that a candidate for Spotsylvania County clerk of court was distributing sample ballots that resembled those of the parties, until a judge barred him from doing so. Swanson said civility is lacking in many races for local offices, including school boards, and "we need a better, kinder America." (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)A poll volunteer displays a misleading sample ballot that a candidate for Spotsylvania County clerk of court was handing out at an early voting location in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 17, 2023. The blue sheet marked "(D)" appears to come from the local Democratic Party but was distributed at the scene by Nick Ignacio, the independent candidate for court clerk, with his name checked. Ignacio also gave out red sample ballots that resemble the Republican one, implying to voters who didn't look too closely that both parties have endorsed his bid in Tuesday's elections. Neither has. A judge subsequently barred Ignacio from distributing the sheets. (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)Nick Ignacio, an independent candidate for county clerk, hands out red and blue sample ballots that he prepared and endorsed himself at the Spotsylvania county early voting site in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 25, 2023. Several Democrats and Republicans at the site have criticized Ignacio's practice as misleading voters. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Heather Drane is photographed on Oct. 17, 2023, outside the Stafford County, Va., middle school where she now teaches after 18 years at a school in neighboring Spotsylvania County. Drane says she knows at least 10 other staff members who have left Spotsylvania schools in recent times, in part because of the "toxic stew" of school board meetings in the county. Over the past three years, local school board elections have become the place where America's deep political divisions are on full display. In Tuesday's elections in Virginia, far-right candidates are looking to take over a number of school boards or expand their slim majorities while the left fights fiercely to gain background. (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)Jennifer Peterson, left, and Jeffrey Glazer, community members with differing views on removing books from schools, talk at the Spotsylvania county early voting site in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 25, 2023. Both were volunteering outside the voting site. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Dale Swanson, chair of Rappahannock Conservative Women's Coalition, poses for a portrait at the Spotsylvania county early voting site in Fredericksburg, Va., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Candidate signs are seen at the Spotsylvania county early voting site in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Nick Ignacio, independent candidate for Spotsylvania County clerk of court, stands by a rash of campaign signs at an early voting location in Fredericksburg, Va., on Oct. 17, 2023. Ignacio was handing out misleading sample ballots that implied both parties were endorsing him, though neither is. Republicans and Democrats alike said civility is in short supply in local races for school board and other offices in Tuesday's elections and dirty tricks are widely seen. A judge subsequently barred Ignacio from giving out the sheets. In Virginia, far-right candidates are looking to take over a number of school boards or expand their slim majorities while the left fights fiercely to gain ground. (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)The genuine Spotsylvania County Republican sample ballot, left, is displayed Oct. 17, 2023, in Spotsylvania, Va., next to one that resembles it but doesn't come from the GOP at all. Nick Ignacio, independent candidate for county clerk of court, handed out the version on the right, with his name checked as if he's been endorsed by the party. Representatives of both parties said Ignacio was confusing voters at an early voting location in Fredericksburg, and should stop, but he defiantly pressed ahead until a judge barred him from distributing the sheets. A GOP official said the campaign for Tuesday's election is seeing "dirty tricks being played all over the place." (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)Community members attend a Spotsylvania school board candidate forum in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Bernadette Chimner poses for a portrait in front of Halloween decoration highlighting books removed from Spotsylvania schools, at her home in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Tom Eichenberg, retired school administrator, poses for a portrait at his home in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)Jordan Lynch, left, a Spotsylvania school board candidate, and Dawn Shelley, a current member of the board, have a conversation after a candidate forum in Fredericksburg, Va., Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Serkan Gurbuz)
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Dale Swanson, chair of the Spotsylvania County GOP, displays an official GOP sample ballot she was handing out at an early voting location in Fredericksburg, Va., on Oct. 17, 2023, while lamenting a campaign that is seeing "dirty tricks being played all over the place." She and Democrats alike were upset that a candidate for Spotsylvania County clerk of court was distributing sample ballots that resembled those of the parties, until a judge barred him from doing so. Swanson said civility is lacking in many races for local offices, including school boards, and "we need a better, kinder America." (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)
