|
CUSD Candidate Summary
by Coronado First*
The following Candidate Summary was prepared by a non-partisan group called Coronado First to help inform the entire Coronado community about the upcoming CUSD School Board election. This is not the work or opinion of the Coronado Democratic Club. The club has not endorsed any candidate in any local race for this election.
*Since 2012 Coronado has become a very divided and partisan place. Coronado First wants to see elections in Coronado return to the days when residents elected other residents to solve local problems. Coronado First seeks an end to hidden agendas or partisan, national, political interference in our city. There are 4 seats on the CUSD Board being contested, and this year your vote is more important than ever.
One 2-year term (pick one)
*Renee Cavanaugh is a longtime resident and a former teacher in Coronado with 15 years classroom experience. She has been very active in the Coronado Schools Foundation and with many other community groups. Before she become a teacher, Renee worked in finance with government contractors. She has an MBA, and this will help her navigate the process of getting CUSD to basic aid. (Qualified)
Nicole Boucher is a nurse with no known experience in the schools or the community. She proudly admits she is unvaccinated and claims the vaccine causes modifications to your DNA, a conspiracy theory spread by QAnon. She also skipped several of the candidate forums. (Not qualified)
Gerri Machin is the Executive Director of We The Parents Coronado, a very small group affiliated with a number of national groups dedicated to disrupting and ultimately defunding public schools. She claims prior experience teaching, but has not shared what she taught or where. She spent the last two years waging culture wars against the school board. Gerri referred to book banning and healthy organ removal at several candidate forums. If elected, Gerri said she wants to fire Karl Mueller. Endorsed by the local GOP, the radical fundamentalist Awaken Church/RMNNT group, the anonymous group Coronado School Board Report, and a Trump endorsed Congressional candidate (Kevin Kiley). (Not qualified)
* Vote for Renee Cavanaugh.
Three 4-year terms (pick three)
*Helen Anderson-Cruz is a current CUSD trustee running for re-election. She may not be perfect, but she has spent her entire career as a professional educator, and she possesses both the qualifications and experience necessary to be a solid board member. Helen has had children and grandchildren attend CUSD. (Qualified)
*Stephanie Anderson is a lifelong resident of Coronado and small business owner. Her children graduated from CUSD schools. She has been active in numerous school and community groups, including serving as President of the Coronado High School Football Boosters from 2017-2021 and on the Islander Sports Foundation Board from 2019-2021. Stephanie is passionate about education and has proven to be a quick study of the issues faced by CUSD. She is running to give all children the best education available. (Qualified)
*Alexia Palacios-Peters is an attorney who has a degree in education and prior teaching experience. She is a Navy spouse, and her 3 children currently attend CUSD schools. She is active in numerous community groups including Safe Harbor and the League of Wives and helped coach the JV tennis team at CHS. Alexia is committed to improving the schools and ending the divisiveness at board meetings. (Qualified)
*Malachi (Mal) Sandie is a retired Navy officer with 4 children, 2 of whom are still attending CUSD, including a special needs child. He believes the use of masks and vaccines during Covid was necessary. He believes CUSD’s educators do an excellent job delivering a high-quality education that prepares students for life after CHS, no matter what career path they might choose. Mal is a straightforward guy with no hidden agendas. (Qualified)
Mike Iversen is a local businessman with children in CUSD who did not like how the CUSD handled its response to the county and state mandates on Covid. He also does not support the 4x4 schedule at CHS and he thinks only parents should serve on the board. He has no known prior experience in the schools or the community. (No opinion)
Scot Youngblood is a retired Navy surgeon who oddly opposed the use of masks and vaccines during Covid. He misquotes a 2019 (pre-Covid) World Health Organization study on the effectiveness of masks as justification for this position. He has said he wants to fire Karl Mueller. Scot claims to be nonpartisan, but he is endorsed by several very partisan groups including the GOP, the radical fundamentalist Awaken Church/RMNNT group, a Trump endorsed Congressional candidate (Kevin Kiley), Mayor Richard Bailey, and an anonymous group called Coronado School Board Report. (Not Qualified)
Lisa Meglioli is an enigma and she skipped several candidate forums. She has no known prior experience in the schools or the community. Although she has 5 children, it does not appear any of them attend school in the CUSD. She is endorsed by The Lincoln Club, the GOP, the radical fundamentalist Awaken Church/RMNNT group, a Trump endorsed Congressional candidate (Kevin Kiley), and a group called Coronado School Board Report. Received her “candidate training” thru the Awaken Church. (Not qualified)
Mark Scheurer is a former Navy physician who is running a phantom campaign. He opposed the public safety measures in place during Covid. He has no known experience in school or community affairs. He made no appearances at the candidate forums and some of his replies to written questions for candidates never even answered the question asked. Mark is endorsed by an anonymous group called Coronado School Board Report which appears to be run by the members of We The Parents Coronado. (Not Qualified)
*Vote for any three of these qualified candidates: Mal Sandie, Alexia Palacios-Peters, Stephanie Anderson, or Helen Anderson-Cruz.
| 
