Four candidates for Douglas County school board participated in a forum hosted by the Douglas County GOP and Parker Conservatives on Oct. 4 in Parker.
Candidates David DiCarlo, Andy Jones, Jason Page and Maria Sumnicht were interviewed by KNUS radio host Deborah Flora at the Deep Space Lounge. Able Shepherd CEO Jimmy Graham was a guest speaker.
Colorado Community Media can’t report further on the event because reporter McKenna Harford was ejected after being told by organizer Mark Hampton that it was a private event and media wasn’t invited.
However, the Facebook post that announced the forum described the event as public and free. No tickets were needed to enter.
On her way out of the building, Harford stopped to use the restroom, where a woman who introduced herself as Deep Space Lounge owner Antoinette Engelke entered and said she needed to escort Harford out since she was not invited to the event.
Engelke walked Harford out.
Colorado Community Media reached out to the candidates for comments about the forum.
Holly Horn, campaign manager for Best DCSD, the slate Jones, Page and Sumnicht formed, said the candidates were not involved in planning the forum and were unaware it was a private event and that Graham would be there.
“BEST DCSD are candidates running for school board who were invited to participate in a candidate forum,” Horn said. “They were available and participated.”
When asked about what the candidates would say to LGBTQ+ students about participating in the event with Graham, Horn said:
“I would guess the LGBTQ+ students wouldn’t be any more interested in this one than the others we have done like Braver Angels. Same situation. The candidates had no control over the forum format or the guest list and the people in attendance were invited by the hosts.”
Jones, Page and Sumnicht participated in a public forum hosted by Braver Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to political depolarization, on Sept. 28, alongside candidates Brad Geiger, Susan Meek and Valerie Thompson.
DiCarlo said he didn’t know media wouldn’t be allowed into the event, adding he also participates in public forums.
“I try to attend events wherever I believe there are persuadable votes to be earned and I expected the conservative forum would be receptive to my anti-tax message,” he said.
In response to a question about sharing the stage with Graham, DiCarlo said it’s an important life skill to be able to talk with people you don’t agree with.
“There are differing opinions on just about every issue and if we only talk with those who agree with us on everything, we’ll each be talking only to ourselves,” he said. “An important part of growing up is accepting that the world is made up of diverse opinions and learning how to thrive and interact in a world that doesn’t always share our views. If a student leaves DCSD without discerning that necessary life skill, we have failed that student.”
This article has been updated to clarify remarks from Holly Horn.
It’s a sign of how they will conduct DCSD business if elected…Reformers rehashed…
The journalist is mistaken about the school board candidate forum. There was a sign posted on the entry door saying it was a private event for members only. I’m sure she saw the sign.