In response to Jeannie Markham”s letter to the editor of March 31 regarding the e-mail that I sent to teachers in the Lakeport Unified School District, the intent of my e-mail was to inform teachers of my experience and my goals and objectives as a candidate for County Superintendent of Schools. I in no way intended to invade teachers” personal work spaces, and the content of my e-mail was strictly informative.
The California Education Code does not bar citizens from sending e-mails to teachers or others in the education community, even e-mails that are intended to inform them of one”s candidacy. The e-mail addresses that I used were obtained, legally, from a county public school directory, openly available to anyone. The education code does prohibit districts and school employees from using district property and equipment to support a particular candidate. I am not employed by any school district and I did not originate my e-mail from a district computer.
I intend to continue to get my message out to teachers and other voters in the county via e-mail, regular mail, signage and commercial media. Speech in this country is still, thankfully, constitutionally protected.
Dr. Judy Luchsinger
Candidate for Lake County Superintendent of Schools
Lakeport
