Durham trustee endorsements from a local advocacy group have named 12 candidates in the public and Catholic school board races ahead of the October 26 municipal election.
Back2Basics Durham says the list is not exhaustive. The group told Juno News that the candidates it selected agreed with six values covering parental involvement, educational outcomes, merit, school environments, sex and gender, and the display of flags at schools.
The endorsements are the views of Back2Basics Durham, not an official recommendation from either school board or a municipal election office. Voters can still choose from all certified candidates in their municipality and ward.
Six public board candidates receive support
For the Durham District School Board, the group named Walton Armstrong, Sinthuja Kanageswaran, Sandra Lazarus, Sri Mylavarapu, Lynda Yardley and James Bountrogiannis.
Back2Basics co-founder Rob Cornish told Juno News that the organization sought candidates who agreed with its stated principles. He said its original goal was to identify 11 public-board candidates, but the group had not found enough people who met its criteria.
The group’s website describes parental responsibility as its first principle. It also says schools should emphasize literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and other academic foundations while recognizing achievement and providing help to students who are struggling.
Six Catholic board candidates also named
For the Durham Catholic District School Board, the group endorsed Kylie McAllister, Morgan Ste Marie, Richard Damianopoulos, Trevor Aitcheson, Ayeza Perez and Mary Louise LaBarre.
Cornish said the organization wants secure learning environments for every student. He also described positions on curriculum, sex and gender, and which flags should be displayed at schools. Those positions are political and educational-policy views advanced by the group; neither board was reported as adopting them.
Juno News reported that Back2Basics contacted candidates and confirmed alignment before adding them to the list. The organization said it may identify other candidates later.
Election is set for October 26
School trustee contests appear on municipal ballots alongside mayoral, regional and local council races. Eligibility to vote for a public or Catholic school board trustee depends on a voter’s school-support status and the rules administered by the local election office.
The Durham trustee endorsements are one group’s assessment of candidates. Residents can compare that list with official candidate information, ward boundaries, voting methods and voter-list details published by their municipality before casting a ballot.
Back2Basics described its list as a way to help voters identify candidates who share its priorities. The group did not present the 12 names as the only candidates running across Durham Region.
