As a Douglas County resident and devoted mother, I am flabbergasted that a slate of local Douglas County School Board candidates has been endorsed by the national right-wing 1776 Project PAC. 1776 Project PAC was formed a couple of months ago by a Republican operative/Trump advocate for the purpose of supporting far-right and anti-critical race theory candidates across the country.

That four Douglas County candidates, out of ten of thousands across the country, would be endorsed by 1776 Project PAC shows how important outside right-wing influences hold our local election.

Although the DCSD board election is supposedly nonpartisan, Republican parties and far-right PACs have contributed to or endorsed the conservative “Kids First” school board slate. Outside interference is nothing new when it comes to conservative DCSD board candidates. Past elections have gained substantial financial help from the Koch brothers and various GOP PACs, often to the tune of six figures.

This year's elections are very important to the future of schools across the country and Colorado. Disruptive extremists have shown at local school board meetings to criticize unpaid school board members for every issue, fed by a national effort to undermine progress in academics and equity programs. And by the way, CRT is not taught in the DCSD. That's a confabulation meant to instill fear in parents' hearts.

My family and neighbors urge each Douglas County voter to take a very critical inspection of the GOP-sponsored “Kids First” slate. Who's supporting them and where is the money coming from? Unfortunately, we know the answer all too well.

Leigh Ann Guthrie,

Roxborough Park