Civility Matters in Local Elections

Recently, I was included on a group email in which another candidate sent a message regarding me titled “Gag me with a spoon” followed by the statement:

“This guy knows nothing and has done nothing about the county board of education.
If you are running for office at least find out what you are expected to do when elected.”

I understand that campaigns can become emotional and competitive. Healthy disagreement is part of democracy, and voters deserve open discussion about qualifications, priorities, and ideas. However, I believe there is an important difference between constructive debate and personal ridicule.

I am running for the Alameda County Board of Education because I care deeply about students, families, and the future of public education in our community. Like many grassroots candidates, I am not a career politician. I am a parent, volunteer, community member, and someone who believes local leadership should remain connected to the people it serves.

Since entering this race, I have spent countless hours researching the role of the Alameda County Board of Education, speaking with community members, meeting with local organizations, studying county education governance, and learning about the responsibilities associated with the office. Public service should always involve humility and a willingness to continue learning.

I welcome honest questions about my qualifications, policy positions, and understanding of the role. Those are fair topics for any campaign. What I do not believe helps our community is mockery, bullying, or attempts to publicly demean others simply because they stepped forward to serve.

Too often, negative political culture discourages ordinary people from participating in public life. Many good people never run for office because they fear personal attacks more than they fear losing an election. That is unhealthy for democracy, especially in local races where community voices matter most. 

I believe voters deserve campaigns focused on:

• ideas instead of insults,

• accountability instead of arrogance,

• and respectful dialogue instead of personal attacks.

As of today, I still do not have access to my social media accounts, including years of personal memories, community connections, and communication tools that disappeared without meaningful explanation or recourse. This has already been an extremely difficult and stressful experience for both my family and me during an active election campaign. Adding personal insults and public ridicule on top of that serves no constructive purpose and only contributes to the kind of political toxicity that discourages everyday community members from stepping forward to serve. We can disagree on ideas and qualifications without losing our basic sense of decency and respect for one another.

My focus remains where it has always been: supporting students, strengthening educational opportunity, encouraging parent involvement, and serving Alameda County with integrity and respect.

I will continue engaging with the public thoughtfully and respectfully, even when others choose a different approach.

— Mark Harvey
Candidate for Alameda County Board of Education, Trustee Area 4