Kathy Gebhardt defeats opponent backed by “overwhelming” dark money to win Colorado State Board of Education primary
Former Boulder faculty board president Kathy Gebhardt gained the Democratic main for a seat on the Colorado State Board of Training on Tuesday, regardless of a bunch supporting constitution faculties having spent practically $1 million to oppose her marketing campaign and again political newcomer Marisol Lynda Rodriguez.
The preliminary outcomes for the 2nd Congressional District seat on the state schooling board virtually definitely guarantee Gebhardt will win the seat in November as there is no such thing as a Republican candidate within the race. She is going to exchange board member Angelika Schroeder, whose six-year time period ends in January.
“It exhibits that cash can’t purchase an election,” stated Gebhardt, including that the outcomes thus far confirmed that “individuals have been stepping up for public schooling.”
As of 10:15 p.m., Gebhardt led with 43,156 votes, or 56% of the overall. Rodriguez had 33,911 votes, or 44%.
Rodriguez instructed The Denver Submit that she known as Gebhardt to concede shortly earlier than 9 p.m.
“I feel I ran a extremely superb race,” she stated. “I’m actually grateful for all the supporters that I had.”
Gebhardt stated Gov. Jared Polis, who had endorsed Rodriguez, known as her Tuesday night to congratulate her on her win. The governor is a constitution faculty founder and beforehand served on the State Board of Training.
“We put a chip within the armor of ‘cash can purchase seats,’ ” she stated, calling the quantity of darkish cash spent in her race “overwhelming.”
“We’ve proven that individuals’s voices are stronger than cash,” Gebhardt stated.
The race drew scrutiny for its potential influence on the way forward for constitution faculties in Colorado, however each candidates pushed again on such feedback, every saying they help faculty alternative, and due to this fact, charters, that are public faculties which have extra autonomy than conventional, district-run faculties.
However that didn’t cease a single political motion committee known as Progressives Supporting Lecturers and College students from spending $871,970 on the race, in response to marketing campaign finance experiences. The group, which has ties to constitution faculties, supported Rodriguez and opposed Gebhardt.
Rodriguez would have introduced a perspective that’s “not represented sufficient” on the board, which is that of a father or mother with school-aged youngsters, stated Kyle DeBeer, who was listed as an agent for the committee and is vice chairman of civic affairs for the Colorado League of Constitution Colleges.
“One of many issues — regardless — it’s heartening to see each candidates within the race, in closing days, specific help for high-quality public faculties,” he stated, noting that each candidates instructed The Submit final week that they help faculty alternative and constitution faculties.
The committee spent greater than 20 instances as a lot as a union-backed group has within the race. The Colorado Labor Motion, which is partly funded by the Colorado Training Affiliation, spent greater than $42,300 on mailers opposing Rodriguez, in response to finance experiences.
Rodriguez was considered because the candidate almost certainly to again constitution faculties after they attraction native districts’ selections to reject their functions. She beforehand labored for the Nationwide Alliance for Public Constitution Colleges and the Walton Household Basis, a backer of constitution faculties nationwide.
Gebhardt, an lawyer, served two phrases on the Boulder Valley College Board. She has additionally served on the Board of Administrators for the Colorado Affiliation of College Boards.
The Republican main for the board seat representing the 4th Congressional District, based mostly in Parker, was the one different contested race for the state Board of Training.
Kristi Burton Brown, the previous chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Get together, led with 49,456 votes, or 53.02% of the overall, as of 9:39 p.m. Saundra Larsen had 43,829 votes, or 46.98%.
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