North Tustin

Candidate for Tustin USD - Area 1

Allyson agreed to take the School Board Advocacy Pledge, saying “I will take the Advocacy Pledge. In TUSD, the LGBTQ+ community is being targeted by extremists. I can use help with canvassing and postcard writing if you have any volunteers”.  (As a note, Pride at the Pier is not guiding any course of action, and are merely sharing the direct response of this candidate. This is a non-partisan voter guide, and as a 501c3, we do not endorse candidates). 

During her run for the state legislature in the March Primaries, she was endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats, a leading LGBTQ+ Democrat group, saying “It’s an enormous honor to be endorsed by the @stonewalldems. As a school board member, I’ve stood for equal opportunity & safe spaces for ALL — no matter what. That focus on acceptance changes lives for the better. I'll bring the same advocacy to Congress for #CA40. Onward!”

Acknowledged AAPI Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Earth Day on her instagram page: 

https://www.instagram.com/allysonmunizdamikolas/

When an organized group of anti-LGBTQ+ activists brought several dozen people to the school board meeting on 10.09.23 to push for forced outing policies, Allyson stood firmly against them. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/2xhLpKFKvjc

“The one thing we can agree on, is that we all care about the well-being of our children….” 

“I believe a successful child is one who learns to treat people who think, or act, or look differently than them with empathy and respect. (...) We should never make a child feel like they are unwanted in the classroom.” 

“This comes down to safety. As a mother, and also as a Latina, I can’t help but think of the next school shooting, or children who commit, or attempt, suicide - and I know LGBTQ kids are more likely to commit suicide. We need to provide a safe environment for all children to succeed and live the American dream, just like I did - and we need to keep the politics out. In our community, it is okay that we do not share the same beliefs about everything. What I’d ask our community to consider is, how as parents are we creating a safe space for all of our children? How are we modeling behavior that treats everyone around us with respect, empathy, and compassion? And what are we doing as a community to work together to make sure all of our children make it to become successful, thriving adults?” 

Allyson attended OUSD meetings when forced outing policies were on the agenda there, and spoke out against them, as a neighboring community’s trustee. 

Endorsements: 

• Endorsed by the OC Democratic Party

• Endorsed by the Tustin Educators Association

• Endorsed by Kris Erickson, the OUSD Trustee who fought hard against forced outing policies in OUSD.

• Endorsed by Vicente Sarmiento and Katrina Foley, the 2 OC County Supervisors who voted against Pride Flag Bans on the county level. 

• Endorsed by WAVE

• Endorsed by Moms Demand Action as a Gun Sense Candidate

• Endorsed by Planned Parenthood

• Endorsed by the Orange County Labor Federation, SMART Local 105 (Sheet Metal Workers), Southwest Carpenters Union

• Endorsed by Women in Leadership

Candidate for Tustin USD Area 1

Endorsed by “RecallTUSD”, a instagram page that raised a deeply transphobic hysteria about a transgender woman who was working as a substitute teacher in the district, stating “RecallTUSD has said it before, and we say it again. TUSD school board has established a leftist culture that puts our children in danger”. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsschhOO5RM/?img_index=4

Endorsed by the OC GOP

Endorsed by all 5 OC BOE Trustees, who have consistently voted against the LGBTQ+ community

Endorsed by Nancy’s Picks, a local ballot guide that advertises itself as “And are SICK of the LIBERAL/LEFT Socialism Direction CA & Nation Is Headed, You will like my picks!”

Joe has the same language on his campaign page as Mark McCallie, with anti-LGBTQ+ language. 

“The TUSD Board passed a resolution to affirm that boys can play in girls sports and compete against girls. Even though the state had legislated this, the TUSD Board thought it would be a good idea to support it in Tustin, and passed a resolution upholding it. Is this what we want for our girls, being brutalized by boys on the sports fields? In the locker rooms?

The TUSD Board has done nothing to oppose the “Lie to the Parents” bill passed in Sacramento. Again, more inaction from these Board Members.” < This is in reference from AB 1955, The Safety Act, which bans forced outing policies.  Portera is misrepresenting what this law does, which is in line with the narrative that California anti-LGBTQ+ activists are pushing. 

Labels himself as for “Parents’ Rights”, a dog-whistle out of the far right that encompasses book bans, forced outing policies, regressive curriculum policies, and pride flag bans. 

Received significant donation from Jenny McMasters  anti-LGBTQ+ activists who pushed for forced outing policies at Tustin USD meetings. https://www.youtube.com/live/2xhLpKFKvjc

Recieved a $3,000 campaign contribution from California Policy Partners, which operates as a dark money funding engine for California Policy Center and the Lincoln Club, two extremist anti-LGBTQ organizations in California.  Board members include (a prominent OC Republican - classified at this moment due to ongoing investigative journalism on the matter) and Mark Bucher - Bucher is (was?) one of the executive Board members on the CPC.  https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=212180483  

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152/201930439349200628/IRS990EZ

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/california-policy-center,272870463/

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152

Candidate for Tustin USD Area 2

Endorsed by Allyson Muniz Damikolas, a consistent LGBTQ+ ally and current Tustin USD board member who is running for reelection

Endorsed by Jonathan Stone, a consistent LGBTQ+ ally and current Tustin USD board member who is running for reelection

His campaign website shows a notable absence of any of the anti-LGBTQ+ dog whistle language like “parents rights”, focusing only on standard school district matters https://www.pevehouse.org/

Received $7,000 in donations from Lynn Davis, a current Tustin USD Board member and LGBTQ+ ally. https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=212168658

Pevehouse has over 20 years of experience in volunteer leadership in Tustin USD, including on the Citizen Oversight Committee and the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. 

Candidate for Tustin USD Area 2

Endorsed by “RecallTUSD”, a instagram page that raised a deeply transphobic hysteria about a transgender woman who was working as a substitute teacher in the district, stating “RecallTUSD has said it before, and we say it again. TUSD school board has established a leftist culture that puts our children in danger”. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsschhOO5RM/?img_index=4

Endorsed by the OC GOP

Endorsed by Nancy’s Picks, a local ballot guide that advertises itself as “And are SICK of the LIBERAL/LEFT Socialism Direction CA & Nation Is Headed, You will like my picks!”

Endorsed by Jorge Valdes, an OC BOE Trustee who has consistently voted for anti-LGBTQ+ policies and resolutions in his position

As of 9/26/24, has raised over $40,000 for her campaign, despite having an extremely limited presence online. 

https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=212179966

Received significant donation from Jenny McMasters anti-LGBTQ+ activists who pushed for forced outing policies at Tustin USD meetings. https://www.youtube.com/live/2xhLpKFKvjc

Recieved a $3,000 campaign contribution from California Policy Partners, which operates as a dark money funding engine for California Policy Center and the Lincoln Club, two extremist anti-LGBTQ organizations in California.  Board members include (a prominent OC Republican - classified at this moment due to ongoing investigative journalism on the matter) and Mark Bucher - Bucher is (was?) one of the executive Board members on the CPC.  https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=212180483  

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152/201930439349200628/IRS990EZ

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/california-policy-center,272870463/

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152

Married to a wealth management financial advisor, Mark Copeland, who donated $10,000 to her campaign.

Candidate for Tustin USD Area 4

Endorsed by Scott baugh and Steven Choi

Received significant donation from Jenny McMasters and Kelly Felton anti-LGBTQ+ activists who pushed for forced outing policies at Tustin USD meetings. https://www.youtube.com/live/2xhLpKFKvjc

Endorsed by “RecallTUSD”, a instagram page that raised a deeply transphobic hysteria about a transgender woman who was working as a substitute teacher in the district, stating “RecallTUSD has said it before, and we say it again. TUSD school board has established a leftist culture that puts our children in danger”. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsschhOO5RM/?img_index=4

His campaign page is filled with anti-trans dog whistles and and anti-LGBTQ+ policy stances. 

“Even though the state legislature passed a bill permitting boys to compete in girls’ sports, this TUSD Board decided to further enable this by passing a supporting resolution. Where was the TUSD Board in protecting our girls in sports? Where was the TUSD Board in protecting our girls locker rooms, and keeping our girls from being brutalized on sports fields? Where was the pushback?

The TUSD Board has ignored the “Don’t tell Parents” Bill (Referring to AB 1955, the Safety Act, which he is facetiously referring to as the “Don’t Tell Parents” Bill, despite it NOT restricting teachers from talking to parents)  that passed in Sacramento. This Bill stops teachers from telling parents about their child’s activities in school. Where is the pushback from the TUSD Board?”

Labels himself as for “Parents’ Rights”, a dog-whistle out of the far right that encompasses book bans, forced outing policies, regressive curriculum policies, and pride flag bans. 

Recieved a $3,000 campaign contribution from California Policy Partners, which operates as a dark money funding engine for California Policy Center and the Lincoln Club, two extremist anti-LGBTQ organizations in California.  Board members include (a prominent OC Republican - classified at this moment due to ongoing investigative journalism on the matter) and Mark Bucher - Bucher is (was?) one of the executive Board members on the CPC.  https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=212180483  

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152/201930439349200628/IRS990EZ

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/california-policy-center,272870463/

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831095152

OC BOE Trustee Jorge Waldes donated $250 to his campaign out of his own personal campaign bank for the Valdes for OC School Board campaign https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=211730643

He runs JUCETV, a Christian, faith-based digital media platform that creates content for kids and young adults. Content includes videos titled “Biblical Perspective: Should Kids Get the COVID Vaccine?” “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” “Can You Be a Progressive Christian?” ‘Did Neanderthals Evolve Into Humans?” “Christians Discuss; What is Critical Race Theory?” “According to the Bible, When is Divorce OK?” “Can Women Be Pastors?” “Gender Roles, Women Leadership (and Other things Christians Disagree on”

McCallie is a graduate of Vanguard University, which made Campus Prides’ list of Worst Colleges & Universities for LGBTQ+ students. As recent as 2022, Vanguard university bans same-sex relationships among its students.  The University, a southern California institution, also made news with its hard work to dismantle SB 1146, a CA bill designed to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination at religious universities. https://www.campuspride.org/worstlist?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwr9m3BhDHARIsANut04be6HPKzQ0UUl52MjnHFbyNps7jNaI3VqHjbKdQ5ZaVHDMBO6xcUtEaAmbsEALw_wcB

Candidate for Tustin USD - Area 4

Endorsed by the Orange County Young Democrats “NGL, it feels good when the under-30 crowd trusts you with their endorsement.” 

Endorsed by WAVE (Women for American Values and Ethics)

Endorsed by Planned Parenthood

https://www.instagram.com/stone4tusd/

Endorsed by the OC Democratic Party

Survived a recall effort that was pushed by anti-LGBTQ activists.

When an organized group of anti-LGBTQ+ activists brought several dozen people to the school board meeting on 10.09.23 to push for forced outing policies, Stone stood firmly against them, agreeing with his colleagues on the board Allyson Muniz Damikolas and Lynn Davis in their comments that rejected anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-teacher narratives. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/2xhLpKFKvjc

He’s a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity