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Racist comments and anti-Christian attacks do not belong in Paso Robles

September 19, 2024

District Trustee Kenney Enney

OPINION by KENNEY ENNEY

Last week, I was saddened to hear about the latest attack against Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Trustee Laurene McCoy, after her challenger Tim Gearhart, told her that he is running against her because his racist neighbors didn’t like Laurene and convinced him to challenge her.

In a Facebook post I stated, “Gearhart should withdraw from the race for PRJUSD Area 5 Trustee!! In light of his comments regarding his motivation for entering the race (listen to KPRL interview), it is evident that his prejudices have no place in our school district. Repeated racist comments and anti-Christian attacks on Laurene McCoy over the past few years are a shameful stain on our community and show the lengths that his side is willing to go to keep Laurene D. McCoy off the board.

“I am calling on Tim Gearhart’s fellow candidates, Nathan Williams, Tracy Dauterman, and Adelita Hiteshute to join me in condemning Mr. Gearhart and calling for him to drop out of the race.”

In response, my opponent, Ms. Tracy Dauterman posted the following: “Hi Kenney, I am running my own race, and I barely know Mr. Gearhart. I stand against all forms of racism and even spoke about it at the school board meeting this past Tuesday evening when I presented a letter I circulated along with Netta Perkins last weekend. We gathered signatures calling for the school district to take consistent and meaningful disciplinary and preventative action in response to all of the forms of hate we’ve experienced recently and in the not so distant past (one of the incidents mentioned in the letter was the defacing of Laurene’s campaign sign). I am saddened to hear of this incident and will be reaching out personally to Laurene.”

Her call for “consistent and meaningful disciplinary and preventative action” against hate is an admirable goal, and I support it. However, if Ms. Dauterman truly intends to achieve this goal, one would expect her to publicly condemn Tim Gearhart for his statements. She has the opportunity right now to take “meaningful disciplinary and preventative action” against racism by calling for Mr. Gearhart to withdraw from the race, or by endorsing Laurene D. McCoy. Why gather signatures and write letters when she has the power to unilaterally take action in this instance?

Ms. Dauterman and her fellow Progressives have a history of gathering signatures as a form of action. In a Dec. 15, 2022 New Times article titled, “Appointed Paso school board member ousted with voter petition,” events leading up to my 2023 recall election were discussed.

The article stated, “The petition was organized by several Paso Robles parents, including Tracy Dauterman.” Ms. Dauterman disagreed with my stance on “transgenderism” and what I view as the over-sexualization of children in schools. Rather than engaging in conversation, she and others attempted to silence me by forcing me off the board.

The article continued and stated that “The special election would cost the school district $493,000, a cost that Dauterman called the ‘price of democracy.’”

In my case, Ms. Dauterman and her allies were willing to subject the community to a divisive and costly special election because they opposed my faith and values. Today, they make disingenuous platitudes in response to racist and anti-Christian attacks on Laurene D. McCoy for the same reasons. The refusal to take a stand against Mr. Gearhart and the ongoing targeting of Laurene D. McCoy by Ms. Dauterman and her supporters exposes their double standards.

Double standards are a growing concern, creating a dangerous point of division in our community. Whether it’s the blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of conservatives—allowing favored groups to display their flags on school property while prohibiting others—or calling for the end of hate speech while reposting hateful online comments mocking those with different values, the hypocrisy is clear. We cannot move forward as a community when those in power selectively enforce principles of fairness and equity.

If we are serious about rooting out racism, hate, and bigotry, it requires a consistent, unified stand—not silence when it’s politically convenient.

Kenney Enney is a Paso Robles Joint Unified School District trustee.

 


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The discussion about hate is just more virtue signaling. Nobody is going to eliminate hate. Even Jesus hasn’t accomplished it yet. Why would anyone think that the Paso schools should succeed. Maybe it can be reduced but it starts with a strong nuclear family and Christianity. Teaching kids that whatever they “identify” as or whatever is “their truth” is a reason for them to feel excluded in an us vs them way. Instead the schools should teach STEM subjects along with English, writing and reading.


0

Bigotry based on a person’s race, ethnicity, accent, language, choice of religion, sexual orientation, level of affluence, mental capacity is WRONG, and the opposite of the teaching of Jesus, which are inclusive, as are most faiths.


12

What does this have to do with the students? Can you just find somebody that will do their job? You know. For the students.


32

And how about this dude hijacking a story on racism to slide in his selfish Christianity bullshit. And from a guy that has been a lightening rod in school related affairs.

Hey Mr. school expert-do you realize there is many, many legit religious beliefs outside Christianity? Or do you think your holy angle is more righteous? Makes sense why a lot of population is fed up with the self righteousness to the point of coming up with terms like “…bible thumpers…”

Hey bible thumper: stay in your lane.


-18

To some, the teachings of Jesus are a guiding light. I like when folks have a moral compass. A lot of people really need guidance in this world. A world which is becoming more and more confusing.


12

Agree. But do you realize that the guiding light comes in all forms of life? Not just Christianity. Yet-Christians are the most aggressive in pushing their agenda; moral compass so to speak. And hypocrites at that.


-1

Excellent article and opinion. Thank you sir.


20

Could anti-Christian bigotry be related to Christian anti-Semitism?


-27

I know many Christians and have been a Follower for abut 20 years. I know of no Christians that are anti-Semites.


0

Not a good way to campaign and a rotten example to the students.

What purpose did the disclosure of why Gearhart is running serve? An innapropriate and twisted behavior unbecomiing of any candidate for public office.


-9

I’ve always found it more than a bit silly when liberals/progressives call for “unity” because what it often means is “you should just unconditionally agree with what we’re saying”.


I’m glad Enney brought it up double standards because he is doing the same, calling for Dauterman and others to drop out and endorse an opposing candidate because of something none of them did is just a politically convenient stunt. Like the liberals he opposes, this isn’t a call for unity, it’s a weak attempt at guilt by association to cow out competition from a democratic race.


Would Enney be calling for McCoy to drop out of someone had made a racist or sexist or whatever comment about one of her opponents? No, of course not, he would say what Dauterman said and be right to do so.


-25