Parents vs. unions: The battle over Mesa County’s schools
The same people and organizations trying to replace District 51 School board members, Andrea Haitz, Will Jones, and Angela Lema are the ones responsible for neglecting our schools in the first place. Previous board leadership allowed facilities to deteriorate to the point that repair costs became unfeasible. Union-backed leaders pushed for schools to remain closed longer during COVID-19 and for students to continue masking despite mounting evidence that masks did little to prevent transmission.
On August 17, 2021, under the old union-backed board, a public meeting abruptly ended after just 30 minutes of comment, even though 45 minutes had been allotted. The board members, backed by the union, simply walked out with a police escort. If you think that union-supported candidates like Kaci Cole, Vicki Woods, and Mike Rathbone wouldn’t do the same to parents and taxpayers, think again.
Our current board has worked to restore trust and transparency. Shortly after Haitz, Jones, and Lema were elected, they did exactly what they promised families they would do—they ended the mask mandates for our children. Not long after, an attorney threatened to sue the district over that decision. But our newly elected board didn’t back down. They stood firm on principle, determined to protect the rights of parents and students.
Many of us in the community rallied behind them, knowing they were doing the right thing. Nearly 400 families signed a letter warning that if the attorney followed through on her threat, parents would take her to court. After that letter was delivered, silence.
Haitz, Lema and Jones implemented a book review policy that allows parents and grandparents to more easily identify and remove sexualized or inappropriate materials from schools. That’s real accountability.
I’ve never regretted supporting Haitz, Jones, and Lema. They have continued to honor their promises to Mesa County families—and they need our support now more than ever.
So why are Denver unions and the Colorado Education Association (CEA) pouring tens of thousands of dollars into Mesa County’s election? Because they want control, not better schools.
The students of Mesa County deserve better than what the teachers union has planned. If you want decisions made behind closed doors, without your input, then the union’s candidates are your ticket.
The “Students Deserve Better” flyers claim we can’t trust Andrea, Angela, and Will because of school closures and lack of funding.
That’s a blatant lie. Schools were closed due to shifting demographics and this happens to be a national trend. The union boards allowed buildings to deteriorate through years of neglect.
Here’s how the CEA disguises its influence and money trail:
Public Education Committee (PEC): Operates out of the same building as the CEA and serves as its primary funding arm. Together with the Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA), over $40,000 has already been funneled into this race.
Students Deserve Better: A long-standing independent expenditure committee run by Denver union insiders. They’ve distributed attack flyers across Mesa County in addition to that $40,000. As of October 13, 2025, they’ve raised $384,000, with $257,000 coming directly from the CEA, plus large donations from the Denver, Poudre, and Aurora teachers associations.
Is the union nonpartisan? Hardly. The CEA openly partners with the Colorado Progressive Voter Guide, endorsing nearly all left-wing candidates at state and national levels.
Mesa County families deserve honesty, transparency, and leaders who stand for students — not union politics.