Aren’t school board elections supposed to be nonpartisan?
That’s the question some Cypress-Fairbanks ISD residents asked when they got postcards in their mailboxes on Thursday featuring a photo of conservative Christian activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk, who was murdered last month at a Utah college campus.
“Keep crazy out of our schools!” the mailer states above the following bullet points:
Nationwide violence has escalated on the left, to the point of political assassinations.
It is the result of the leftist and Marxist takeover of our schools.
It is years and years of indoctrinating our kids to accept and normalize radical ideas.
If you wouldn’t vote for a Democrat at state and national elections, why do it locally?
It’s an advertisement for incumbent Natalie Blasingame, former board member George Edwards Jr. and retired CFISD administrator Radele Walker, “the only candidates in this race endorsed by the Harris County GOP.”
This mailer was distributed to Cy-Fair ISD voters this week. Credit: Screenshot
The mailpiece was paid for by the CyFair4Liberty Political Action Committee, led by Bill Ely.
Ely did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday mornin, nor did the slate of Republican candidates.
But those supporting challengers Lesley Guilmart, Cleveland Lane Jr. and Kendra Camarena, all of whom have voted in a Democratic primary but are identifying themselves as a “pro-public education” slate, had plenty to say.
“What does Charlie Kirk have to do with a school board election and why are they implying their opponents have something to do with it?” said Odus Evbagharu, a Cy-Fair ISD graduate and Democratic candidate for Texas House of Representatives.
The mailer also stirred some strong feelings in hardcore Republicans.
A former Harris County Republican Party precinct chair said in a text message to the Houston Press, “This is a new low. How can they desecrate Charlie Kirk and his image/memory? It is disparaging and insulting. I am literally feeling the same feelings I felt when I heard of [Kirk’s] assassination. This is inhumane and insensitive. Have they no morals or ethical boundaries?”
This mailer was distributed to Cy-Fair ISD voters this week. Credit: Screenshot
A post in the Facebook group CFISD Parents for Librarians had more than three dozen comments early Friday morning.
“Teachers are not the enemy and to equate them as such and that they are the result of ‘nationwide violence’ is absolutely INSANE,” wrote Ashley Buckner, who posted photos of the mailer.
One commenter added, “That sure is a great use of the fear propaganda technique and a testimonial by putting Charlie Kirk on there. If I was still teaching, I would be saving this one as one of the mailers for the kids to analyze when teaching propaganda techniques.”
Another commenter pointed out that school boards are supposed to be nonpartisan. “Why do they keep using our children and teachers as the frontlines in their political war?” she asked.
The Cy-Fair ISD board has been under fire since a conservative Christian majority led by Blasingame began last year supporting book bans, removing chapters from textbooks and trying to get chaplains installed at district campuses, which critics say blur the lines of separation of church and state.
In addition to the GOP-endorsed candidates and the pro-public education candidates, board president Scott Henry is also seeking re-election, running for Position 6 against Blasingame and Lane. Henry is backed by trustees Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray and Lucas Scanlon. Elecia Jones is running for Position 7 against Camarena and Walker.
The Harris County GOP endorsed the three candidates before the filing period ended and days prior to the publication of a Houston Pressstory in which Blasingame admitted she’d secretly recorded members of the community, prompting a board policy change that prohibits trustees from taping conversations with community members, district administrators and other trustees without the knowledge of all involved parties.
A GOP precinct chair proposed a resolution last month to revoke Blasingame’s endorsement, alleging the trustee brought shame upon the district, but rescinded the motion when she determined she didn’t have enough support from party officials for it to go through.
Earlier this week, Cy-Fair Republicans welcomed Gov. Greg Abbott and Senators Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, to a Cypress barbecue restaurant. At the event, Abbott said he wanted to turn Harris County “dark red.” Blasingame, Edwards and Walker attended the event, and Blasingame posted on Facebook on the day of the visit that a “YUGE endorsement announcement” would be forthcoming.
Abbott didn’t endorse any of the school board candidates but said his top two priorities are to win re-election in November 2026 and to win Harris County — and he’s willing to spend most of the $90 million in his coffers to do so.
Early voting continues through October 31. Election Day is November 4.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD board president Scott Henry kicked off a candidates forum Wednesday night, saying, “It’s not about politics. It’s not about headlines either. It’s all about doing what’s right for 117,000 students and the people we serve every single day.”
It’s an interesting characterization of the panel that oversees the third-largest district in Texas and has made many headlines recently for what some would say are the wrong reasons: accusations of unethical behavior by a board member and a battle with the community and each other over varying viewpoints on the separation of church and state.
While incumbents and political newcomers were on their best behavior at the October 15 forum, bickering among Cy-Fair trustees is not uncommon. The community has called for an end to the chaos and negative publicity, but at least a dozen Facebook groups are dedicated to the district’s upcoming election, candidate behavior or school board matters.
Early voting begins Monday in the school board race, which will be decided on November 4.
A trio of “pro-public education” candidates — Lesley Guilmart, Cleveland Lane Jr. and Kendra Camarena — filed early this year in hopes of unseating three incumbent board members who ran as a Christian conservative slate in 2021.
But incumbent Lucas Scanlon opted not to seek re-election, and trustee Natalie Blasingame shook things up by challenging incumbent Henry, instead of running for the seat she already holds.
The finalized ballot includes nine candidates: Terrance Edmond (withdrawn), Guilmart and Radele Walker for Position 5; Henry, Lane and Blasingame for Position 6; and Elecia Jones, Camarena and George Edwards Jr. for Position 7.
The conservative Christian slate of Blasingame, Walker and Edwards — referred to by supporters as “NRG” for Natalie, Radele and George — has been endorsed by the Harris County Republican Party and Glorious Way Church.
Henry has been endorsed by current board members Scanlon, Justin Ray and Todd LeCompte. The pro-public education slate nabbed the Houston Chronicle endorsement hours after Wednesday’s forum and is largely supported by teachers and parents who want to ensure that book bans, library closings, and removed textbook chapters aren’t the norm at Cy-Fair ISD.
Camarena told a reporter prior to the forum that teachers want to feel trusted and parents want transparency.
“They’re ready for a change and a board that is not engaged in chaos and shenanigans,” she said.
Scott HenryNatalie Blasingame
No one at the forum mentioned the fact that Blasingame’s secret recordings of community members prompted a new board policy that prohibits such activity. The candidates appeared to be focused on improving safety measures, ensuring high student performance rates and reviewing the district’s $1.2 billion budget.
Blasingame acknowledged she didn’t vote for the 2025-26 budget, something her naysayers brought up to imply she doesn’t support teacher pay increases. The approved budget included an increase in the starting teacher salary to $65,000 and a 4 percent raise on the midpoint or base for other employees, along with increased starting pay for hourly staff to $15 an hour.
“I want to say to the paraprofessionals, I fought for you,” she said. “I did not vote for the budget because, for me, for you to be the working poor is not acceptable. You’re so critical in our buildings. You cannot do it without paraprofessionals.”
Blasingame spent much of her time at the forum talking about student performance.
“What can matter more than making sure that elementary school kids are able to read?” she said. “Right now, we have about 12,000 kiddos that aren’t at the 50th percentile on reading for first through fifth grade. We have to focus our money where it matters and differentiate support for the campus that needs it most.”
She pointed out that the district has lost 2,000 students this year, which she attributed to “changes at the border.” Some families may have “gone back or be afraid to come to school,” she said.
Henry said the district needs to partner with parents and ensure that expectations are communicated and they know how to use technology tools.
“Most importantly, if we have strong academics, safe schools and parent involvement, we’re going to have very successful lifelong learners, and that’s the key right there,” he said.
Scott Henry, Cleveland Lane Jr. and Natalie Blasingame are running for Position 6 on the Cy-Fair ISD school board. Credit: Screenshot
A few candidates referenced curriculum changes that occurred under the current board, including the removal of entire chapters from textbooks that referenced vaccines and climate change.
Guilmart said, “This district deserves a clean slate.”
“I remember an efficiency audit that took place under the current board and superintendent just within the last couple of years from an outside auditor who said there was nothing to cut; this district is doing an incredible job,” she said. “And yet we have paraprofessionals who do not make a living wage and we’re losing staff to neighboring districts. We need to raise our voices and advocate for the funds that we need.”
More than 100 people attended an October 15 candidates forum at the Berry Center. Credit: April Towery
Camarena said her family moved to Cy-Fair ISD because of the schools but has been negatively impacted by decisions made by the current board.
“I’m having to fill in some of the knowledge that my daughter is going to be missing because of those chapters that have been removed from the science textbooks, because I want to make sure that she has access to that information and background information when she goes to college in the near future,” she said.
Lane said community members have lost trust in the district because the board has become politicized. They’re opting to homeschool or send their kids to charter schools or private schools, he said.
“When you start having discussions about trying to change the separation of church and state, when you start having conversations about making this particular change politically, that’s not what’s best for the kids,” Lane said. “People will come back if the board leads them that way. I am going to make sure that we take the politics out of education and put the trust back in trustee.”
Elecia Jones is running for Position 7 on the Cy-Fair ISD school board.
Jones said her No. 1 priority is teacher pay and she wants to ensure collaboration with teachers and parents.
“There are spaces and places where I’ve attempted to collaborate with a teacher to help my son and realized that there are differences in how they do math,” she said. “I have a math degree, and still, math is new to me. Having those [collaborative] tools, being able to have the communication and transparency between the parent and the student and the teacher is very important.”
When addressing the budget, Jones brought up that the board slashed bus routes this year in an effort to save money, prompting injuries of several children who were walking or biking to school. The bus routes were later reinstated. The candidate also reminded her colleagues that the school board is nonpartisan.
“Our children are not political pawns,” she said. “I know sometimes there’s a question of separation between church and state. I am a Christian but even Jesus doesn’t cause us or force us to believe in him or follow him. There’s no reason we should implement those things on our children and our students.”
Edwards, who has called for a “forensic audit” of the district, said he wants to do a deep dive to ensure that the district’s tax dollars are being used efficiently. “Before we request a whole lot of additional money, let’s make certain that our house is in order,” he said.
Radele WalkerGeorge Edwards Jr.
Edwards added that he believes in appropriate homework that students can share with their parents.
“The school can do so much but the parent plays a role in reinforcing what the teachers are teaching in the classroom,” he said. “We’ve got to have that partnership and it’s got to be one that’s focused on continuously.”
Walker, a former school administrator, spoke of the district’s financial crisis and “a crisis of discipline.”
“Teacher retention is directly impacted by the lack of support for teachers,” she said. “The framework has been set. House Bill 6 gave teachers the authority to reclaim their classrooms. As administrators and board members, we need to pass policies that don’t give a lot of subjectivity. Teachers need to be able to handle students who are disrupting the classrooms. They need to have the authority and they need to have the backing of everybody.”
Blasingame, Henry and Lane were asked how they would govern effectively with board members who have different beliefs than they do.
“Guess what? True North,” Blasingame said. “There is not much that we cannot agree on when it comes down to the role of school as far as reading, writing, math, critical thinking, safety, teachers: having their back and their support, and making sure principals have the tools to do discipline. There is much common ground. It just comes down to getting super clear about our goals and working together to do that.”
Henry said it’s the fiduciary responsibility of board members to “do the right thing every single day for our kids and our district.”
“When we work toward the common goal of doing what’s right for our kids, we’re all singing from the same hymn book,” he said. “Are we going to get there differently? Absolutely. That’s OK. We can have our differences of opinion, but at the end of the day, we have to focus on the most important thing, which is academics and safety around those academics.”
“We have to also act like adults and that’s the most important thing at the dais,” he added.
Lane highlighted the district’s diversity and said he wants to ensure that different perspectives are engaged.
“That is going to require having differences of opinion,” he said. “But you’ve got to have each and every person that’s on the board willing to listen. We have to listen to each other, communicate with each other, and then finally, at the end, what is the best decision for the kids? Not ourselves, but overall, for the kids.”
A church pastor called forward three people to the altar during a recent Sunday service. The trio wasn’t being baptized or sharing testimonies. They were receiving endorsements in a November school board election.
Glorious Way Church, east of Cypress, is backing Christian conservatives Natalie Blasingame, George Edwards Jr., and Radele Walker. The announcement came after a sermon in which pastor John Greiner preached on “the importance of signs and wonders.” Greiner then passed the mic to associate pastor James Buntrock.
Buntrock, the Harris County GOP’s Senate District 7 Chair, a precinct chair, and an advisory board member, also serves as the executive director of the nonprofit MyGodVotes.
So why would a religious institution tell people how to vote? At least a few of the Harris County GOP precinct chairs are regular attendees of Glorious Way Church and had a hand in the party’s endorsement of the three candidates, which was announced in August. Precinct chairs Bill Ely and Clark Denson came forward when the Cy-Fair ISD candidates were introduced at Glorious Way, offering their support.
Maybe it’s about control: putting the people who support a party’s agenda at the helm of local decision-making. But maybe, many said this week, it’s because local government, particularly when it involves the education of children, is of the utmost importance. Although this is the first time Glorious Way has endorsed candidates, it’s not uncommon for Houston-area churches to back their favorites in a local race.
Buntrock couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday but said in his remarks from the pulpit that “because we haven’t done it right in the earthly realms, the demonic is running rampant in the heavenly realm.”
“If we just start doing our job, we can turn this thing around,” he said, noting that if the three endorsed candidates are elected, they’ll have a majority on the seven-member board along with trustee Christine Kalmbach, who was in the congregation on Sunday.
“All authority in heaven and earth is given to Jesus and then he assigned it to us and told us to go to all the world,” Buntrock said. “He talks about those in governing authorities and he calls them ‘God’s ministers for righteousness.’ There’s a purpose. They are God’s ministers for good and when they cease to do good or operate with righteousness, they need to get out. That’s why we have candidates who are up here today.”
“Assuming you guys get elected, you are there to be an avenger against evil and to defend and protect our kids, to protect our families, to protect the covenant of marriage, and to do God’s work in this place,” he added.
The associate pastor pounded a gavel and told the trio they were officially endorsed by Glorious Way Church. “We are taking the fight up another level,” he said. “I don’t care what the IRS says about this.”
Edwards, a U.S. Army veteran and former Cy-Fair ISD board member, mentioned that he’s a church deacon and wants a forensic audit of district finances. Walker, a retired CFISD administrator, quoted scripture and talked about loving one another and being careful about the “antichrist among us.”
“We have to be careful, because they will tear down what we built,” Walker said. “I ask you to vote for the candidate whose values are shared by you, a candidate who believes that our school district should have traditional values and oppose rhetoric and things that are creeping into our schools that are dividing our nation.”
Blasingame, an incumbent who is running against board president Scott Henry, has recently been embroiled in a controversy over her secret recordings of community members. The board adopted a new policy barring trustees from recording conversations without the knowledge of all parties involved, and Blasingame tried to accuse the panel of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Her recent behavior, and that of her close friend Damon “Bam” Lenahan — who threatened to release the tapes if one of the residents on a secretly made recording didn’t take down a Facebook post endorsing Blasingame’s opponent — prompted a Harris County GOP precinct chair to introduce a resolution rescinding Blasingame’s endorsement.
The resolution was withdrawn, and the Harris County Republican Party maintained its endorsement of Blasingame. The endorsements of Edwards and Walker were never called into question. The slate is also endorsed by the Texas Republican Party.
At the September 20 church service, Blasingame said she has done some good work over the past four years as a trustee, “trying to fight some of the culture wars.”
“This is a spiritual battle, and this group right here can come in with some spiritual authority to take care of things because the thief is real,” she said. “He comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but our kids deserve to have life and life abundantly. That’s what schools should be offering them.”
Blasingame spoke of an assignment from God she received years ago on an airplane. “He told me that my role was to tear down the over-interpretation of separation of church and state in our schools,” she said.
A slate of challengers calling themselves “pro-public education” candidates includes Lesley Guilmart, who is running against Walker; Cleveland Lane Jr., who is running against Blasingame and Henry; and Kendra Camarena, who is running against Edwards.
A slate of “pro-public education” candidates, Lesley Guilmart, Cleveland Lane Jr., and Kendra Camarena, are challenging the conservative GOP-backed hopefuls.
Screenshot
Buntrock said the Democrats are “very serious about this fight” and want to take the school board “back to a socialist, progressive, leftist, liberal, Marxist evil.”
The Harris County Democrats did not endorse candidates in the Cy-Fair school board election. Cypress-Tomball Democrats president Jennifer Lorenz said that race should remain nonpartisan, but it’s not stopping her from knocking on doors to remind her neighbors to cast their ballots on November 4.
“We need to get back to putting kids and teachers first and get away from the hyper-partisan political nature that has appeared on this board,” said Lorenz, who moved to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD 30 years ago because it was a “destination district” with a reputation for good schools. “Our public schools should not be the place to fight hyper-partisan battles. It really does come back to value statements.”
Lorenz said school board races matter, even for those who don’t have kids in public schools.
“They matter more than anything,” she said. “If you are unhappy with the federal government, there’s not a whole lot that can be done. I care about every kid’s education, whether they’re mine or not, period. For those who don’t have that same philosophy, if they live in this district, they should care about their appraisal values.”
“If the district goes downhill, your resale values are going to go with it,” she added. “That’s a fact. School districts mean a lot to communities.”
In 2021, it came to light that some of the conservative Cy-Fair candidates were being backed by Republican megadonors who added more than $1 million to the candidates’ war chests. That made the Democrats take notice, Lorenz said.
“So we’ve got outside money from very clear hard-right folks coming into the community. Maybe we need to pay attention,” Lorenz said. “This was not on our radar. We didn’t think we had to be engaged in this fantastic school district. We supported the candidates who made the most sense. We voted for the incumbents because they were doing such a good job.”
When Blasingame, Henry, and Lucas Scanlon were elected in 2021, followed by Todd LeCompte in 2023, the board gained a 6-1 majority led by Blasingame. The group supported book bans, reduced library services, and eliminated entire chapters from textbooks that referenced climate change and vaccines. They wiped out several bus routes, which led to accidents and prompted the board to reinstate the bus service.
“We want freedom of religion, which means not pushing a particular religion at the schools,” Lorenz said. “We’ve become very active because of what this current board has done.”
