Keystone Today

In the wake of the Central York School Board election on Nov. 2, one group is calling out its opponents for playing dirty politics.

The Central York School Board became one of the combative election grounds this year after conservatives were accused of banning books in the school district, a charge opponents counter was a tailor-made media narrative. 

“The partisan York Dispatch did a smear campaign claiming the school board ‘banned books targeting Black and Latino authors,’ which they knew was a lie. They didn't mention that these resources remained in the library, and they ignored (critical race theory)-based books such as Not My Idea, A is for Activist, Stamped, How To Be An Antiracist, White Fragility, etc. which they knew were the real reason for the resource list review,” Elana Fishbein, the founder of No Left Turn in Education, told York County News. 

Fishbein created the movement to combat racial indoctrination in the K-12 education system.  

The tight race that drew attention from international media resulted in the election of two GOP members -- Tim Strickler and Faith Casale --- and two Democrat members -- Corey Thurman and Amy Milsten. In addition, Wendy Crane and Danielle Allison, both Republicans, won two two-year seats. GOP incumbent Veronica Gemma lost re-election. 

The race was close enough that some have said recounts may occur and the results may change. 

The Democrats planted “book ban” stories with local media for months before those claims overtook the race, according to Fishbein. 

“Notice that our opponents don't actually reveal what they stand for, rather only attack. That's because they don't want you to know about their radical agenda,” she said.   

Fishbein added the book ban lie was not the only lie told during the campaign by liberals. 

“The Pennsylvania Democratic Party funded a slanderous mailer attacking Veronica Gemma. They falsely accused her of attending the Jan 6th Rally (she did not) and QAnon support (she does not)," Fishbein said in an email.

Fishbein also said Democrat opponents were incensed that GOP contenders ran in opposition to critical race theory. 

“They cite declining academic rankings while hiding the fact that Republican candidates are truly the ones focused on improving core academics, opposing the CRT decay they support,” she said.   

The Democrat opposition was well-funded, Fishbein said.  

“While they call us politically motivated, they are flush in support from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, PSEA union, and radicals like Turn PA Blue. They even have political TV ads,” Fishbein said.   

Fishbein added that union influence found its way into the race in a big way. 

“The PSEA union has thrown their support behind our opponents, hounding union members to vote for them. Perhaps that has more to do with politics and the 2022 union contract renewal than what's truly best for our children,” she said.