Midway City

Incumbent candidate for OVSD (at large elections)

Email: ginaclaytontarvin@gmail.com

Gina agreed to take the School Board Advocacy Pledge, saying, “I am honored to take the pledge!”

Campaign Website: https://www.ginaclaytontarvin.com/ 

On her “about me” page, she says, “During her 29-year career as a classroom teacher, union leader, and elected school board trustee, she has learned the importance of actively listening to and collaborating with parents, teachers, and staff to increase efficiency, resolve issues, and empower the people who work with our students everyday.”

Under her priorities, she includes: 

• “DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OVSD:

Serving as a trustee of the Ocean View School District, it’s been my honor to work for the people of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Midway City, and Westminster. As a classroom teacher, I pride myself on being an excellent communicator, with the ability to prioritize listening over speaking while seeking to understand different perspectives. Synthesizing ideas to understand concerns leverages the expertise of others. As a conservative fiduciary of public tax dollars, I have balanced budgets for a decade, and this year recorded a record-breaking surplus. My track record shows that representation of our diverse community is a top priority. Being from a family of immigrants has shown me how truly fortunate I am to be part of the American Dream. Our district is a beautiful patchwork of many races, cultures, religions, and traditions. Over the past two centuries, our Constitution has protected our right to be different, and I have sworn an oath to protect this.”

Candidate Statement:

“Safe schools are a must for every student. The implementation of a comprehensive background check system, upgraded schools’ security fencing, and the installation of secure school entry and exit protocols demonstrate my unwavering commitment to safe schools. When our students feel safe, they can focus and develop academically, socially, and emotionally.” 

Read her full statement here. 

Social Media: 

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter:

Youtube: 

Linkedin:

On twitter, Gina posted her public comments opposing the city-wide Forced Outing Policy from the HB City Council. She said, “Protecting Huntington Beach’s children is my number one priority. As a teacher and board member, I will work without cease to make sure students are protected and that educators are not put in jeopardy to be prosecuted for doing their jobs. The City of HB must follow state law and let teachers teach and parents parent without interference. Protecting kids, always!”

She’s also said on social media, “Demonizing teachers is tired and old”.

On instagram, this candidate follows: 

• Regina Blankenhorn (HB City Clerk Candidate)

• OC Blue Wave Dems

• Dan Kalmick (HB City Councilmember)

• Protect HB (this local political organization helped fund our participation in the 4th of July parade this year)

• Orange Coast Huddle (this local political organization helped fund the creation of the Giant Pride Flag)

• Women in Leadership

• Orange County Labor Federation

• California Teachers Association (CTA)

• Laguna Beach Dems

• Several local school, municipal, and business accounts

Endorsed by: 

• Endorsed by Huntington Beach’s teachers unions, including OVTA, WOCUT, DEA, HBETA, and state-level teachers’ unions, including CTA and CFT.  CTA in particular was a part of the coalition that worked to get AB 1955 passed. 

• Orange Coast Huddle

• OC Dems

• Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE)

•  Also endorsed by a long list of elected officials with LGBTQ+ allyship track records. 

  • Vincent Sarmiento, Orange County Supervisor

  • Katrina Foley, Orange County Supervisor

  • Cottie Petrie-Norris, CA State Assembly, District 74

  • Dan Kalmick, Huntington Beach City Councilmember

  • Natalie Moser, Huntington Beach City Councilmember

  • Rhonda Bolton, Huntington Beach City Councilmember

  • Carol Crane, Newport Mesa USD Trustee

  • Kris Erickson, Orange USD Trustee

  • Oscar Rodriguez, (fmr) Huntington Beach Planning Commissioner

***Oscar is the individual who initially suggested that Pride at the Pier apply to be a part of the Huntington Beach 4th of July parade in 2024.

News:

The OC Register asked Gina a few questions.  Among these, they asked, “California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

Gina replied, “As a mom, I know that parents are their child’s first teachers. Parents know what their children need and are their best advocates. The role of parents is an important one that can’t be underestimated or denied. As a parent of an Ocean View School District student, I feel welcome and respected by my student’s teachers and play a pivotal role in my child’s education. OVSD employees are powerful advocates for students under the California Education Code, protecting them every day.

At Ocean View School District, we pride ourselves on following our state’s laws and maintaining order to set a good example for the students in our charge. As a responsible fiduciary, my strongest belief is that teachers should be left to teach and parents to parent.”

A modernized Mesa View Middle School welcomes Ocean View district students for first day of school - OC Register

The LA Times covered a candidate forum Tarvin participated in - read it here. 

The Voice of OC covered Gina’s public records lawsuit against the city attorney’s office to release the details of the Pacific Airshow settlement.  The settlement that was released when her suit was successful has been a great source of controversy in the city. Read about it here. 

Won the most recent election in March 2024 to be on the Democratic Central Committee for the 72nd Assembly District

In June of 2023, a teacher in a neighboring school district was targeted by anti-LGBTQ+ hate, and anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ+ flyers were littered around the neighborhood.  Gina went on KTLA 5 to speak out against this, saying “Those flyers have no place in our community.  Attacking marginalized people - and especially as someone who has Jewish family, I was really insulted.  I think though, that um - this has been spurred on by other actions in our community, uh - specifically something that our Mayor Pro-Tem - “ (at the time) “Gracey Van Der Mark, did.”  This was in reference to Van Der Mark sharing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric online and speaking out against the teacher who was targeted at a school board meeting. Clayton-Tarvin continued, “When (Van Der Mark) showed up at the school board meeting last night, and brought a rabid mob of folks to disrupt, and then magically this morning, there are flyers attacking, you know, marginalized people? It’s definitely connected”.   Pride at the Pier staff were in attendance at the school board meeting being referenced here, and can affirm that there was a very large crowd of anti-LGBTQ+ individuals in attendance along with Mrs. Van Der Mark. 

Follow the Money: 

Gina’s campaign treasurer is Mark Bixby, who also runs the local political journalism platform, the Surf City Sentinel. 

As of the 9.21.2024 reporting deadline, Gina had raised $41,928.15 in campaign funds. 

• $500 came from Cottie Petrie-Norris for Assembly 2024

• A number of under $500 donations came from individuals in HB who have been actively involved in fighting anti-LGBTQ+ policies from the HB City Council. 

• $1000 came from Women in Leadership State PAC

• $250 came from Lorraine Prinsky, a Coast Community College District trustee

• $500 came from Building A Stronger California sponsored by Western States Regional Council of Carpenters

• $300 came from Democratic Club of West Orange County

• $1000 came from Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties' Community Action Fund

• $1000 came from Women in Leadership Federal PAC 

• $1000 came from California Federation of Teachers 

• $100 came from Supporters of Public Education - Orange County 

• $1000 came from Avelino Valencia for State Assembly 2024 

• $300 came from someone within leadership for the Friends of the HB Library

Candidate for Ocean View School District

Email: mrjorgey@gmail.com 

Campaign Website: https://www.jorgensen4ovsd.com/ 

Keith talks on his campaign website about how he is a product of private schools, rather than public schools.  He seems to suggest that his own children have not been enrolled in public schools - “Twenty years ago, when it came time for educating my children, I was not impressed with the public school offerings in Huntington Beach at the time, and have truly seen the social problems worsen. I have also seen enough in the news media and have heard firsthand from parents and children in my community, as to what is being taught”.  

***He leads with a significant amount of familiar anti-LGBTQ+ dog whistles on his main page.  The following text is from his campaign page, the emphasis is ours. ***

“I am a firm advocate for the necessity to change the protocol and immediacy of how parents are notified and wholly restore parental authority over one’s children, within the public school structure. Specifically, empowering parents’ voice and informed involvement, in regards to any discussion or counsel pertaining to the child’s gender identity and the full spectrum of curriculum taught within the educational system.

Also, very important to me is the need to prohibit the books that are considered to be sexually provocative, erotic, pornographic, or other indoctrinating agendas in literature and curriculum, including anti-semitic propaganda for children under the age of 18. These illicit and inappropriate materials mislead and confuse children and have no place in our schools.

 I valiantly uphold an essential resurgence within the schools return to bring back traditional and age appropriate values to the classroom. Distractive and divisive agendas undermine the psychosocial, emotional and cognitive development of children in their learning atmosphere at school. I am a firm believer that our schools need to be a safe haven for all with zero-tolerance of both hateful speech that incites violence and bullying.

 I faithfully seek to ensure that at school, our children’s minds are consistently instructed and unwaveringly navigated towards academic excellence and age appropriate, interpersonal enrichment and social maturation, without indoctrination. The window of time to inspire and educate children for the next generation is finite and invaluable.”

***Keith has been leaning hard into the narrative that there is pornography in OVSD schools - this has been repeatedly debunked.  We will discuss that in more detail further down the guide. 

Under his “platform” page on his campaign page: 

• Bring Back Traditional and Age Appropriate Values to The Classroom

• Keep Our Children’s Minds Focused On Academic Excellence and Age Appropriate Social Development without Indoctrination

Real Estate Agent Profile: https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/ca/huntington-beach/agent/keith-jorgensen/aid_217414/

Candidate Statement:

“By upholding traditional values and prioritizing academic achievement, we can ensure that Ocean View schools return to centers of excellence and innovation.” Read it in full here. 

Social Media: 

Facebook:  

Instagram:

Real Estate Instagram:

Twitter: Not Found

On instagram, this candidate follows: 

• Donald Trump

• Sonja Shaw, EXTREME anti-LGBTQ CVUSD Trustee

• Butch Twining, HB City Council Candidate

• Michael Gates, HB City Attorney

• Gracey Van Der Mark, HB Mayor

• Don Kennedy, HB City Council Candidate

• Lisa Lane Barnes, HB City Clerk Candidate

On his campaign instagram, he posted:

•  a campaign photo with HB City Council candidate Chad Williams and others from the “Trump flotilla” (his words). 

• A photo from the stage of Calvary Chapel at Huntington Harbor, where lead Pastor Joe Pedick was endorsing him along with Lisa Lane Barnes, Chad Williams, and Don Kennedy. 

During an August 31st sermon/ political event at Calvary Chapel at Huntington Harbor, pastors Joe Pedick and Jack Hibbs endorsed Keith and a number of other HB candidates.  Watch here. 

In a prayer over the candidates, Joe Pedick said, “...Lord, even as the message this morning, Lord, these are standing for what’s right, Lord, these are here to fight, they’re here to fight for you, God, and Lord we just pray that, Lord, you would allow them to have the whole armor of God as they go through this battle, and Lord, we pray that you give them wisdom, and Lord, we pray that you give them favor with the people as they vote.  Lord, God, we pray that you would, Lord, speak to those that are going to vote for them.”

Keith is running in a slate with David Clifford. https://www.clifford4ovsd.com.  He’s also campaigning alongside Chad Williams, Butch Twining, and Don Kennedy (HB City Council), Lisa Lane Barnes (HB City Clerk), and Pano Frousiakis (Municipal Water District of Orange County). 

Jorgensen sent out a highly contentious campaign mailer - or rather, a PAC affiliated with Jorgensen sent it out.  It used the narrative tool of pretending to be written by OVSD students, in crayon and with frequent misspellings, asking for help from voters.  The mailer referenced “crazy woke peeple” (misspelling from the original).  It went on to sensationally claim that students in OVSD are being taught “weird things about sex and private parts”.  A number of members of the School District leadership, understandably concerned by these claims, put out clarifications debunking these inflammatory claims.  OVSD, as a K-8 district, does have early puberty/ sex ed for middle schoolers, as is standard in public schools, and parents are given the opportunity to opt their children out of the program.  

These mailers were paid for by the “Huntington Beach People’s Action Committee” as an in-kind donation to Jorgensen’s campaign.  The mailers had an address on them that is connected with Ed Laird, well-known conservative kingmaker in Huntington Beach.  However, the PAC itself is registered to a CPA in Fresno.  

From what we can tell, this PAC expensed these mailers out to Tabula Rasa Enterprises, an LLC in San Francisco, who he’s attributed his campaign paraphernalia to.  Many of the far-right campaigns in Huntington Beach over the last two years have paid Tabula Rasa for their signage and campaign literature.  Tabula Rasa’s manager, according to their statement of information with the CA Secretary of State, is John Cancilla.  John Cancilla is the CFO for Code Four, the company that operates the Pacific Airshow that there’s been so much scandal and controversy over the city’s settlement to. 

Endorsed by: 

• Gracey Van Der Mark (HB Mayor)

• Pat Burns (HB Mayor Pro Tem)

• Michael Gates (HB City Attorney)

• Jorge Valdes (OC Board of Education, anti-LGBTQ) 

• Mari Barke (OC Board of Education, anti-LGBTQ)

• Ken L. Williams, Jr. (OC Board of Education, anti-LGBTQ)

• Tim Shaw (OC Board of Education, anti-LGBTQ)

• Lisa Sparkes, Ph.D. (OC Board of Education, anti-LGBTQ)

• ORANGE COUNTY GOP

• California Republican Assembly

• Orange County Young Republicans

• Reform CA

• Nancy’s Picks

News:

The LA Times covered a candidate forum that Jorgensen participated in.  They report, “He said his real estate background would help him on the board and also said he wanted to make sure the board follows the recent city mandate making Huntington Beach a “Parents’ Right to Know City,” which the conservative City Council majority implemented via an ordinance last month.” 

The OC Register asked Jorgensen a few questions. Among these, they asked, “California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

Jorgensen replied, “I am firmly opposed to AB 1955, believing it represents an overreach by Sacramento. Parents have a fundamental, God-given right to be fully informed about their child’s well-being until they reach adulthood. Just as children are restricted from voting, driving or consuming alcohol due to their maturity level, parents should not be excluded from critical information regarding their child’s transitioning or medical treatments.

Given that the City Council has declared Huntington Beach a “Parental Right to Know” city, I am committed to upholding this principle at the school board. Ensuring that parents are involved in significant decisions affecting their children’s health and education is essential. This approach fosters transparency and strengthens family involvement, allowing parents and teachers to provide the necessary support and guidance while strengthening the parent-teacher relationship. By aligning our school policies with the “Parental Right to Know” stance, we uphold parental rights and contribute to more informed, collaborative decision-making for the benefit of our students. This commitment will ensure that parents remain integral to their children’s educational and personal development, reinforcing our community’s values and standards.” 

***FACT CHECK: AB 1955 does not prevent teachers from informing parents about a student’s gender identity, it prevents school boards from requiring teachers to do so against their will. 

***FACT CHECK: Minors cannot receive gender affirming medical treatment without their parent or guardian’s consent in California. 

***FACT CHECK: The HB City Council does not have jurisdiction over school boards, and the “Parental Right to Know” ordinance they passed will, without a shadow of doubt, be immediately challenged in court the moment any enforcement is attempted. 

***FACT CHECK: Jorgensen is openly acknowledging in this statement that he intends to violate California law. 

Follow the Money: 

*See our discussion of the funders behind his campaign mailers and their ties to Code Four, further up. 

Jorgensen had raised $17,325.00 for his own campaign directly as of 9.21.2024. This does not include money raised through the PAC that is supporting him and other candidates in HB. 

• $500 came from Huntington Beach Republican Women

• $500 came from local anti-LGBTQ activist, Russell Neal. 

• $250 came from Joe Pedick, Calvary Chapel Lead Pastor

• $500 came from the CEO of Stone Impact Media, a Christian Film Studio. 

He expensed $1000 to Continuing the Republican Revolution, for campaign literature.

He expensed over $2000 to his wife Kini Jorgensen, for ‘campaign paraphernalia’. 

Jorgensen is represented by Lysa Ray Campaign Services, which has also worked on the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign for Travis Allen, who is considered to be "California's Trump." He has used the slogans "Take Back California" and "Make California Great Again" for his campaign. She also was the campaign treasurer for OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer, and was involved in a minor campaign finance controversy, where she took the blame for incorrectly filed financial information. And perhaps most importantly, Lysa Ray, who was compensated as a campaign strategist for this campaign, served as County Supervisor Andrew Do’s treasurer during the events that led to his current downfall and FBI investigation for financial corruption. Lysa Ray is representing anti-LGBTQ school board candidates up and down SoCal this election season.

Candidate for Ocean View School District (at large)

Keri agreed to take the school board advocacy pledge, saying “Thank you so much for the invitation to take this pledge. Your pledge very much holds true to my beliefs, and I'd be proud to take this Advocacy Pledge!”

Contact:  kerig4ovsd@gmail.com

Campaign Website: https://www.kerig4ovsd.com/ 

She lists under her priorities; 

• Champion Student & Teacher Success

• Promote Transparency & Informed Decisions

• Foster Community Engagement & Fiscal Responsibility

Candidate Statement: “My expectation is for every child to have access to a safe and nurturing learning environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally”. Read it in full here. 

Social Media: 

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter: None Found

On instagram, this candidate follows: 

• Gina Clayton-Tarvin (OVSD Trustee)

• All of the other accounts she follows appear to be individual people unrelated to politics.

Endorsed by: 

• OC Huddle (This organization largely funded the creation of our Giant Pride Flag)

• Keri has an endorsement page on her campaign website - it’s OVSD students who endorse her (photos shared with the permission of their parents). She doesn’t share organizations or political leaders who endorse her. 

News:

The OC Register asked Keri a few questions.  Among these, they asked, “California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

Keri replied, “I believe that a strong parent voice and a genuine partnership between the district’s administrative team, staff, and parents are essential to ensuring a high-quality education for every student. As a teacher, I know parents play a critical role in their children’s education, providing guidance, support, and values that shape their development. The partnership between administration, teachers, and parents is non-negotiable, regardless of changing laws or political climates. By fostering open communication and mutual trust, we can create an educational environment that honors both the rights of parents and the individuality of each student”. 

The LA Times reviewed a candidate forum that Gorsage participated in.  Read about it here. 

Follow the Money: 

Keri does not appear to have filed any campaign finances reflecting donations. .

Ocean View School District Candidate

Campaign Website: https://www.clifford4ovsd.com/

Clifford leads with, “Parents’ Rights – Transparency – Fiscal Responsibility – Student Achievement”  

Under his platform page, he says, “Parents’ Rights: The family unit is under attack by the state of California. This is evident in bills like AB1955 that would prohibit local school districts from enforcing existing parental notification policies requiring disclosure about a student’s gender identity/expression. Under this new law, a gender-confused child can receive counseling and reading material from school district employees without any parental knowledge and be led to the conclusion they were born with the wrong gender. The state and its employees have absolutely no right to keep secrets from families and parents, regardless of the issue. Parents, not the state, are responsible for raising children. I will make it a priority to have age-appropriate learning material in classrooms and advocate for parents’ rights.” 

Candidate Statement:

“My goal is for the district to get back to the basics and focus on math, science, reading, writing, and history.”  Read the statement in full here. 

Social Media: 

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter: Not Found

On Facebook, Clifford posted this, sensationalizing AB 1955 as ‘a direct threat to families’. 

On instagram, this candidate follows: 

• CA GOP

• Sonja Shaw (EXTREMIST Anti-LGBTQ+ CVUSD Trustee)

• Bill Essayli (Originator of Forced Outing Policies in CA)

• Gracey Van Der Mark

• Scott Baugh 

• Michael Gates

• Pat Burns

• Barbie George (CA Chair of Moms for America)

• Gays Against Groomers

• California Parent Revolt

• Mari Barke (CPC leadership) 

• California Family Council

• California Policy Center

• Julie Hammill (anti-LGBTQ+ activist)

• Frank Rodriguez (fmr. Local chair of Gays Against Groomers, in the Ex-Gay movement)

• Valentina Bankhead (Anti-LGBTQ+ activist)

• Liberty Justice Center (Far-Right Law Firm)

• Lisa Lane Barnes (HB City Clerk Candidate)

• Janet Nguyen 

• Ed Laird

• Lincoln Club OC

• Don Kennedy (HB City Council Candidate)

• Marissa Jackson (HB City Council Candidate)

• Keith Jorgensen (OVSD Candidate)

Clifford is tightly associated with the California Policy Center.  The CPC is a far-right think tank based in Tustin, CA. Founded in 2010, its leaders have become very involved in Orange County Politics. The openly stated goals of the CPC are to oppose teachers’ unions, the teaching of racial and ethnic curriculum in schools, and LGBTQ+ equity in schools, as well as shift public funds out of public schools and into the strengthening of charter schools across California. They have been deeply involved in the progression of forced outing policies, the rebranding of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum as ‘not age-appropriate’, and the efforts to limit sex ed curriculum as ‘pornographic material’. 

• One of his endorsements comes from Mari Barke, who is the Director of CPC’s California Local Elected Officials.  (She’s also a member of the Orange County Board of Education). 

• He posted on Facebook a selfie with Corey DeAngelis. Corey is the author of “The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools.” He’s also a board member of the California Policy Center.

• He also posted an article from CPC regarding OVSD performance, calling them a “non-partisan educational non-profit”, which is stretching the truth rather far at the very least. 

During an August 31st sermon/ political event at Calvary Chapel at Huntington Harbor, pastors Joe Pedick and Jack Hibbs endorsed Keith and a number of other HB candidates.  Watch here. 

In a prayer over the candidates, Joe Pedick said, “...Lord, even as the message this morning, Lord, these are standing for what’s right, Lord, these are here to fight, they’re here to fight for you, God, and Lord we just pray that, Lord, you would allow them to have the whole armor of God as they go through this battle, and Lord, we pray that you give them wisdom, and Lord, we pray that you give them favor with the people as they vote.  Lord, God, we pray that you would, Lord, speak to those that are going to vote for them.”

David is running in a slate with Keith Jorgensen. https://www.jorgensen4ovsd.com/ .  He’s also campaigning alongside Chad Williams, Butch Twining, and Don Kennedy (HB City Council), Lisa Lane Barnes (HB City Clerk), and Pano Frousiakis (Municipal Water District of Orange County). 

Clifford sent out a highly contentious campaign mailer - or rather, a PAC affiliated with his slate companion Jorgensen sent it out.  The mailer encourages voters to vote for the Clifford/Jorgensen slate.  It used the narrative tool of pretending to be written by OVSD students, in crayon and with frequent misspellings, asking for help from voters.  The mailer referenced “crazy woke peeple” (misspelling from the original).  It went on to sensationally claim that students in OVSD are being taught “weird things about sex and private parts”.  A number of members of the School District leadership, understandably concerned by these claims, put out clarifications debunking these inflammatory claims.  OVSD, as a K-8 district, does have early puberty/ sex ed for middle schoolers, as is standard in public schools, and parents are given the opportunity to opt their children out of the program.  

These mailers were paid for by the “Huntington Beach People’s Action Committee” as an in-kind donation to Keith Jorgensen’s campaign.  The mailers had an address on them that is connected with Ed Laird, well-known conservative kingmaker in Huntington Beach.  However, the PAC itself is registered to a CPA in Fresno.  

From what we can tell, this PAC expensed these mailers out to Tabula Rasa Enterprises, an LLC in San Francisco, who he’s attributed his campaign paraphernalia to.  Many of the far-right campaigns in Huntington Beach over the last two years have paid Tabula Rasa for their signage and campaign literature.  Tabula Rasa’s manager, according to their statement of information with the CA Secretary of State, is John Cancilla.  John Cancilla is the CFO for Code Four, the company that operates the Pacific Airshow that there’s been so much scandal and controversy over the city’s settlement to. 

Endorsed by: 

• Mari Barke, OC Board of Education and leadership within California Policy Center

• Ken Williams, OC Board of Education

• Jorge Valdes, OC Board of Education

• Tim Shaw, OC Board of Education

• Morgan Westmoreland, OVSD Trustee

  • We covered Morgan’s open letter opposing AB 1955 earlier this year. 

• Norm Westwell, OVSD Trustee

• Gracey Van Der Mark, HB Mayor

• Tony Strickland, HB Councilmember

• Pat Burns, HB Mayor Pro Tem

• Casey McKeon, HB Councilmember

• Michael Gates, HB City Attorney

• OC GOP

• CA Republican Assembly

• Calvary Chapel

News:

The LA Times covered a candidate forum that Clifford participated in. 

The OC Register asked Clifford a few questions.  Among those, they asked, ‘California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

Clifford replied, “Parents’ rights are the foundation for a successful school district/parent relationship. School districts have a responsibility to communicate all aspects of children’s lives to parents/guardians. I oppose AB 1955 because parents are responsible for their children, not the state, and under no circumstance should the state subvert the parent-child bond.

This new law will create confusion because it contradicts already-established OVSD Board bylaws requiring parental consent, notification, and access to records. AB 1955 is yet another example of government overreach coming out of Sacramento. How can the district ensure it is abiding by its own bylaws?

Many families are moving their children out of the public school system due to AB 1955. In addition to the obvious damage the law will cause, it also exacerbates the declining enrollment problem. This law will decrease district funding and lead to more school closures.”

***FACT CHECK: AB 1955 does not contradict OVSD board policy. 

Follow the Money: 

*See our discussion of the funders behind his campaign mailers and their ties to Code Four, further up. 

As of 9.21.2024, Clifford had raised $16,984.00 for his campaign directly.  This does not take into account money raised by PACs who are supporting him. 

• $500 came from Huntington Beach Republican Women

• $250 came from Joseph Pedick, Calvary Chapel Pastor

• $400 came from Russell Neal, local anti-LGBTQ+ activist

Ocean View School District Candidate

John is also running for U.S. Congress

John is simultaneously running for Congress in the 42nd district, which previously did not overlap with Orange County, but now it does - there’s been a redistricting after the 2021 Census. 

Campaign Website: Briscoe does not have an OVSD campaign website, but does have his Congressional campaign website.  We’ll be referencing that here. 

He’s running for Congress with the tagline, “Bringing Common Sense Back To The 42nd”. 

His issues page covers the following; 

• “PAYCHECK”

  • “Your paycheck is too damned small!

  • – No more $7.00 gas & $6.00 eggs –

  • – No more 30% ++ price increases –

  • – STOP the Spending –”

• “CRIME”

  • “Crime in our communities is too high!

  • – Homeless camping stopped –

  • – DO NOT defund police –

  • – ADD police, fill all open jobs –”

• “BORDER”

  • “The Border is too OPEN

  • – 18 million illegal alien invasion –

  • – Taking jobs from residents –

  • – Lowering pay & wages –”

• “BORDER”

  • “FAMILY”

OVSD Candidate Statement:

“No New Taxes. Basta! In God We Trust, Our National Motto on every coin. John Briscoe is your neighbor. John Briscoe is already a seasoned local elected official. Trustee Briscoe is a tireless

advocate of local control. In God We Trust, He's One of U.S.”.  Read the full statement at the link above. 

In his candidate statement, Briscoe provides some insight into his priorities, listing, 

• Hiring truant officers

• Strengthening local home school programs

• Building an OVSD dedicated charter school program

• No new taxes

Social Media: 

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter:

Youtube: 

On twitter, this candidate follows: 

• Take Back OC

• Kanan Durham (Pride at the Pier Executive Director)

• Mark Bixby (local politics journalist in HB)

• Katrina Foley (OC Supervisor)

• Conservative Brief 

• Kevin Kiley (anti-LGBTQ+ Congressman)

• A large number of the accounts Briscoe follows have “#MAGA” in their bios.

On instagram, this candidate follows: 

• Chief Leadership (civic leadership training)

• Defund the Libs

• Gina Clayton Tarvin (OVSD Trustee)

• The Canadian Conservative

• Charlie Kirk (anti-LGBTQ extremist and Founder of Turning Point USA)

• Long Beach Republican Women

• Kayleigh McEnany (Fox News Commentator)

• Young America’s Foundation (far-right youth activist group associated with Ben Shapiro and Michael Knowles - Knowles, who has openly called for an ‘eradication’ of transgender Americans). 

Endorsed by: 

***We searched for specifically OVSD endorsements. None found, but he may have some we didn’t see - since he doesn’t have campaign websites or social media specifically for his OVSD race, it’s hard to be certain.  

News:

The OC Register asked John a few questions.  Among those, they asked, California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

John answered, “California state government leadership is insane. Parents have the primary responsibility for raising their children per U.S. Supreme Court rulings, including withholding medical treatment to the point of child death. Withholding vital information about child sexual dysphoria is horrible. It assumes parents will abuse their children upon finding out any gender dysphoria information. Child abuse by parents is illegal. If the insane state leadership is trying to preclude parents from providing their own child counseling and therapy, then this is just plain wrong”. 

The Daily Pilot covered a candidate forum for the OVSD race.  Read it here. 

Follow the Money: 

We did not find any campaign finance filings for Briscoe specific to the OVSD race.  It appears that he is focusing his fundraising efforts on his Congressional race.