September 23, 2018 – Orange, Calif.— Democratic Party of Orange County Chair Fran Sdao today issued the following statement regarding the Orange County Republican Party’s endorsement of Gracey Van Der Mark for Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach:
“I urge the Orange County Republican Party to rescind the endorsement of candidate Gracey Van Der Mark for Ocean View School District.
“Students, families and teachers deserve a trustee who respects their diverse community and supports quality public education for every child. Van Der Mar is a divisive figure who has already been removed from school committees by local elected district officials for connections to anti-Semitic and white supremacist online postings.
“Our schools need trustworthy and transparent leaders. We can’t teach children to treat others with respect if our school board trustees fail to meet that same standard.”
The OC GOP endorsed Gracey Van Der Mark for Ocean View School District months after the Republican-majority Ocean View School District Board of Trustees removed Van Der Mark from two district committees. Van Der Mark has been widely criticized by residents and national organizations for anti-Semitic and racist actions conducted publicly and online. Notably, she was also recently endorsed by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.
About The Democratic Party of Orange County
The Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) is the official organization for Democrats in California’s third-largest county. DPOC represents more than half a million registered Democrats, and is engaging voters to close the gap on the narrowest voter margin in Orange County’s modern history. To volunteer or donate to elect strong Democrats that will stop President Trump’s agenda, visit DPOC at www.ocdemocrats.org or call (714) 634-DEMS.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2018
Media Contact: Rachel Potucek, Communications Director, (562) 276-8514, rachel@ocdemocrats.org