Category: Candidates
Eddie Waldrep’s Interview Raises Alarms About His Understanding of Public Education
In a September 26, 2025 interview on the libertarian podcast Free State Colorado, Academy District 20 school board candidate Dr. Eddie Waldrep outlined his campaign priorities. The problem isn’t that he holds strong views. Many candidates do. The problem is that his claims reflect a pattern of distortion, culture-war rhetoric, and outright misinformation that would put…
Jeff Crank Endorses Susan Payne, Eddie Waldrep, and Holly Tripp in Academy District 20 Board Race
Endorsements in local school board elections often reveal more than the speeches themselves. Last week, Congressman Jeff Crank released a video backing three candidates for Academy District 20: incumbent Susan Payne, newcomer Dr. Eddie Waldrep, and Holly Tripp. On the surface, his message sounded familiar; calls for “respecting parents,” “academic excellence,” and “proven leadership.” But…
Academy District 20 Candidate Forum: Concerns Over Question Selection and Fairness
A Community Forum Under Question Candidate forums are meant to be straightforward: community members ask their questions, candidates give their answers, and voters walk away with a clearer sense of who is ready to lead. Yet in Academy District 20, what should be a simple civic exercise has already become a source of unease. The…
The Hidden Purpose of Academy District 20’s “Social Contract”
The D20 board’s “social contract” routes business into the shadows. What does that mean for Susan Payne’s transparency and public trust?
Susan Payne’s Safety Act
Susan Payne’s Shift: From Safe2Tell Founder to Extremist Partner Susan Payne built her name on Safe2Tell, a program that gave students a way to report threats without fear. For years, she was introduced as a guardian of children, the professional face of prevention. Yet 2025 has shown us something else: Payne’s steady march into the…
“Courageous Decisions” or Culture War Stunts?
Kris Garafalo recently praised Susan Payne and her allies for making “courageous decisions” on the D20 board. But when those decisions are examined – blocking National Geographic curriculum, spending taxpayer money on the CHSAA lawsuit, and targeting transgender athletes – the accomplishments look less like courage and more like costly culture war stunts. Families and…
Elect Susan Payne? The Republican Strategy Forum’s Culture War Agenda
As the November school board election approaches, the Republican Strategy Forum gave voters a preview of what candidates Holly Tripp, Susan Payne, and Eddie Waldrep intend to bring to Academy District 20. For those considering whether to elect Susan Payne, the forum highlighted recurring themes: culture war talking points, legal battles with significant price tags,…
Moms for Liberty Builds Their Slate: Eddie Waldrep, Jamilynn D’Avola, and Luis Ybarra Jr.
When voters research candidates for local school board elections, they often look for independent voices with fresh ideas. However, sometimes what appears to be independence is anything but. At their latest meeting, Moms for Liberty – El Paso County made it official: they are running a coordinated slate of candidates across multiple school districts. Their…
Kris Garofalo: The Machine Behind D20’s Extremist Candidates
The Facebook Slip: Susan Payne Can’t Hide the Machine On August 22, 2025, Susan Payne announced her run for a full term on the D20 school board. In the comments, Kris Garofalo chimed in: “so proud to be helping with your campaign.” Payne’s reply? “I could not do it without you.” That wasn’t campaign politeness.…
D20 Candidate Holly Tripp: Running With Susan Payne, Pushing Culture Wars
One District 20 resident recently described an encounter that says a lot about D20 candidate Holly Tripp, and even more about who she’s running with. While collecting signatures for her school board run, Tripp was asked about her platform. She began with generic remarks about “reading and math,” but when pressed, the specifics were telling:…
