On August 28th, the El Paso County chapter of Moms for Liberty will hold a closed-door meeting at TRiNiTY Brewing Company in Colorado Springs. The featured speakers list includes D49 school board member Jamilynn D’Avola, local “undercover citizen journalist” for Chaim Goldman‘s Peak News, Jordan Scott Baldwin, and D20 school board candidate Dr. Eddie Waldrep.
For most candidates, the choice of stage matters as much as the message. In this case, the stage is not a neutral civic forum. Moms for Liberty has been labeled an anti-government extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center, citing the group’s aggressive targeting of public school boards, promotion of book bans, and alignment with far-right political causes. They also served on the Project 2025 advisory board. Their meetings are not public; this one is explicitly “only open to members and like-minded individuals”, and their rhetoric has consistently framed LGBTQ+ students, diversity initiatives, and accurate history education as threats.
A Candidate’s Chosen Company
Waldrep, a veteran and clinical psychologist, is seeking a seat on the D20 Board of Education. His decision to headline a partisan, exclusionary event hosted by a group with a documented track record of attacking public education raises unavoidable questions:
- What message does it send when a candidate aligns with a nationally recognized extremist group?
- Whose voices will he prioritize on the board? The whole, diverse community of D20, or the self-selected “like-minded” attendees of Moms for Liberty?
The Event’s Other Speakers
Jamilynn D’Avola
D’Avola, currently vice president of the D49 school board, has a record of votes and positions that align with the Moms for Liberty agenda. Baldwin, promoted in the flyer as an “undercover investigative journalist,” has publicly focused his work on portraying pride events, drag performances, and LGBTQ+ visibility as sources of scandal. The meeting announcement claims he will present on a so-called “local child drag ring”, an inflammatory and unsubstantiated framing that mirrors conspiracy rhetoric seen in national far-right networks.
Why This Matters in D20
The D20 community has weathered its share of governance challenges, ranging from transparency concerns to external ideological pressure on the curriculum. The addition of another candidate willing to appear under the Moms for Liberty banner is a significant development. The group’s local activities have included support for policy changes that erode inclusive practices and create hostile climates for some students.
Parents, educators, and voters should evaluate not only a candidate’s résumé but also their affiliations and platforms. Speaking at a closed-door meeting of a designated extremist group is a clear indicator of political alignment, and it deserves scrutiny.