Dr. Kelly Lessens Launches School Board Re-Election Campaign Website. Will Likely Face Off Against Pro-covid, Anti-lgbt Candidate.
Dr. Kelly Lessens, who narrowly defeated social media racist Judy Eledge in this year's school board election, has launched her re-election campaign website.
Since being sworn into office, Dr. Lessens has advocated for a safe commitment to in-person school this year, more robust support for our “virtual” students, increased student mental health support, and improved transparency about COVID’s impact on student attendance. Dr. Lessens has also honed the School Board’s strategic 5-year plan to focus on reading and math proficiency as well as career, college, and life readiness in addition to working with her fellow board members to keep the district accountable in demonstrating growth in these areas.
While it's still too early to know for certain, Lessens will likely face off against religious fanatic Mark Anthony Cox, who, in a November 19 Facebook post, indicated he was indeed running for Seat B. Cox had previously filed a letter of intent to run for Anchorage Assembly before pivoting to the school board.
In a little-known Alaska Watchman questionnaire presented to Cox and other far-right school board candidates Judy Eledge, Nial Williams, and Sami Graham this past March — Cox was asked whether he supported ASD’s policy of allowing students to use bathrooms synonymous with their gender identity. Cox told readers that he did not support the policy citing sans data, an “increased chance for sexual violence crimes on school grounds,” suggesting that “gender-fluid” students should be banished to their own “single-stall bathrooms,” a policy move Cox said at the time was “wise.”
Cox is supportive of the anti-LGBT hate organization "Alaska Parents' Rights in Education" and is pro-covid. Cox wrote on August 12 that he agreed with "mask choice," falsely stating that it was “effective.” When asked directly about his "mask choice" position by an Anchorage voter, Cox responded by writing that parents had previously mentioned “good points” as to why mask mandates were “detrimental” to children. Social media superstar Judy Eledge appeared in Cox’s Facebook thread, writing, “No research to support masks for children. None.”
Dr. Lessens narrowly defeated Eledge in April's four-way school board race by 224 votes. Cox, who ran in the same race, placed last, taking 11.3% of the vote. Assuming this year's race for Seat B winds up being a race between only Lessens and Cox and that those who voted for Eledge in April support Cox, there's a good chance Lessens is in danger of losing next year's election without galvanized support for her campaign.
You can learn more about Kelly's school board campaign on her website and Facebook page.
