Is a School Board Campaign Manager Being Paid $50,000?
First quarter candidate financial reports released. Islanders in precinct 32 are still being misled by false political narratives recycled from 2022.
In a letter to the TC Palm editors, a reader pointed out that the campaign manager of David Dyer, Jeffrey Andros, is allegedly saying he is being paid $50,000 for his services. Mr. Andros is the former campaign manager of Brian Barefoot. Mr. Andros helped Mr. Barefoot interview candidates to find a potential replacement for himself on the school board. With his resignation in February, Mr. Barefoot endorsed Mr. Dyer to be appointed by the governor.
Prior to the Taxpayer’s Association Forum, The Sunshine Journal had reached out to Mr. Dyer trying to confirm what Mr. Andros was allegedly saying in public about his new contract. Mr. Dyer did not respond to the request. First quarter financial reports filed with the Supervisor of Elections show Mr. Dyer donating $50,000 to his own campaign. There is also a recorded $20,000 payment to Mr. Andros’ company, Mack Works Consulting LLC, for campaign services.
Mr. Dyer is not shy about putting his money in political races. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, in 2015-16, he gave $112,700 to Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign and PAC, Right to Rise. Neither are his friends shy. Mr. Dyer recently stepped down as vice chairman of The Learning Alliance (TLA). Together with Mr. Dyer, 29 TLA recognized member donors in their annual report represent 75% of his overall fundraising.
Mr. Dyer has also donated $1000 to Dr. Peggy Jones which is the maximum contribution. Dr. Jones has given on average 40-50 targeted contributions annually to the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee since 2015 according to FEC filings. Her interest in political contributions began in 2012 with Obama For America. She gave on multiple occasions to Hillary for America in 2016. Dr. Jones launched her reelection based on false racial charges by the Biden Administration against the Florida Department of Education. Up until 2020, she was a registered Republican.
So far, Mr. McDonald has self-funded most of his campaign. He will be holding a meet and greet on April 30th at the Indian River Shores Community Center. In District 3, Rob MacCallum and Dr. Jones seem to have average numbers reflective of this point in a campaign for Indian River School Board with MacCallum having a slight edge.
By comparison to the 2022 campaign, in District 2, current board member, Jacqueline Rosario, who had 3 challengers in the race, spent just under $57,000 for her successful re-election which she managed herself. Ms. Rosario’s campaign had the unique aspect of continuing after the August 23, 2022 primary day, as her and the second place finisher, Cindy Gibbs, headed to a November run-off.
When you breakdown Ms. Rosario’s 2022 vote, it shows overwhelming support across the county. She won 27-34 precincts for an 11 point victory. Her biggest losses came in 4 island precincts 29, 31,32 and 33. These 4 precincts represent from Indian River Shores to the Sebastian Inlet. She lost by 2.5 to 3 points in all but precinct 32. Precinct 32 is the home of John’s Island, Indian River Shores and 32963 / Vero News. It was where Ms. Rosario suffered an almost 9 point defeat, her worse performance in a precinct.
In the previous 2022 cycle, without evidence, Mr. Barefoot had told 32963 / Vero News, that if Moms for Liberty candidates were elected, the superintendent should “have [his] resume out there.” Moms for Liberty - IRFL endorsed Ms. Rosario in 2022 and he targeted her for removal. Columnist for 32963, Ray McNulty continued the narrative this campaign cycle. When Mr. Barefoot resigned, Mr. McNulty remarked on February 22nd that at least the superintendent’s contract is safe for three years if the Moms “seize control of the board.”
Mr. Barefoot worked behind the scenes on the 2022 campaign for Ms Rosario’s challenger, LaDonna Corbin, who was also hand-picked by Mr. Barefoot’s team and managed by Mr. Andros in defeat. Obtained by The Sunshine Journal is a May 2022 email written by Mr. Barefoot addressed to a large email list in John’s Island social circles. To the precinct 32 community, he claimed all endorsed candidates of Moms for Liberty - IRFL wanted the same thing. He wrote, “If the wrong three candidates are elected to the board, we will lose Dr. Moore (the current superintendent), jeopardize the district’s philanthropic ties with the Learning Alliance, lose teachers, staff and administration personnel, and, most importantly, lose the bedrock of our community; the public education of our children.”
In the email, Mr. Barefoot, as a sitting board colleague, further said that the “Divisive Incumbent,” Ms. Rosario with the other Moms for Liberty candidates, “wants to replace Dr. Moore,” and “wants to dismiss The Learning Alliance from the District,” adding, “Electing even one of them will continue the highly divisive, polarized, and costly antics that have been exhibited over the past two years on the School Board by Jackie Rosario and her supporters.”
“None of it was, or is true. But that’s how some people operate in politics to raise money,” said Jennifer Pippin, chairman of Moms for Liberty - IRFL. Mr. Barefoot’s team held fundraisers and set-up a PAC, Excellence in Indian River Education, PC, that dropped an additional $22,000 in support of Ms. Corbin. In the end, Ms. Corbin came in a distant third in the primary not winning any precinct except one — number 32.
In response to the accusations of the past and during this campaign season, Moms for Liberty - IRFL received word that a personal sponsor wanted to take out a full page ad in 32963 to correct the record on the chapter’s behalf. “We approached 32963 because of our benefactor. Yet, the sales team rejected our full-page advertisement without any real and logical explanation. We changed it a little and went elsewhere.” said Mrs. Pippin. Instead, the ad will run in this Sunday’s edition (4/21) of The Press Journal / TC Palm.
Among listing accomplishments of Moms for Liberty - IRFL, their full-page ad shares how The Learning Alliance and Moms for Liberty - IRFL actually agree on children’s literacy. Both organizations fought for the approval of the Amplify curriculum for English Language Arts (ELA). The win was significant because Amplify was the only text that uses the “Science of Reading” method which the Florida Department of Education required to be in ELA curriculum through passing a rule in 2022. Indian River is one of only two counties in Florida in full compliance. “It is not political for us,” says Mrs. Pippin, adding, “It’s what is best for children and their parents. Basic common sense.”
Well done Thomas Augustus! Barefoot media and friends' attempt to portray parents, grandparents and taxpayers as wild-eyed radicals simply for attempting to protect children from filthy, graphic pornographic content is unconscionable. That they are attempting to justify its existence, much less in children's school libraries, is reprehensible. Thank you Jennifer "pitbull" Pippin for refusing to cave to the relentless assaults of the radical left. We owe you big time!