Negative Campaigning does not foster a Healthy Dialogue in School Board Elections

Recently, concerns have been raised about negative campaigning in the Culver City School Board election.  When candidates file papers to run, they are given the opportunity to sign the "Code of Fair Campaign Practices" - per Elections Code Section 20440-20444 (see full text).

This is what it says specifically on the issue of negative campaigning:

(2) I SHALL NOT USE OR PERMIT the use of character defamation,whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or his or her personal or family life.

I signed the document, agreeing to live by it.

Whenever people have posted comments that I believed to be problematic to the Facebook Group I manage (Culver City PEERS*), I let them know that because I manage this page, and I had signed this pledge I would be removing comments that I considered to either violate section 2, or in my opinion, give the impression that I was supporting negative campaigning towards any candidate. I did this every time something was posted that I considered unacceptable.  If anyone persisted I eventually would block them from my group, as the intent of the group was to share education news and have a healthy dialogue on the issues.

In addition, I have specifically asked anyone volunteering to help me get elected to the Culver City School Board to abide by these same principles. 

I fundamentally believe that people should be elected based on what they believe in and not as a result of negative campaigning against their opponents. There have been a lot of negative, innacurate and unnecessary things said and done during the campaigning period for this year's School Board elections by groups and people on many sides of the issues.  

I will continue to abide by the Code of Fair Campaign Practices and I urge all of the candidates and their campaigns and supporters to do the same.

Respectfully,
Claudia Vizcarra

You can learn more about my campaign on my website and on my Facebook page.


*PEERS stands for Parents and Educators for Equity and Resources in Schools