In the upcoming Manitowoc School Board election, voters face
a critical decision that will shape the future of our children's education.
Among the candidates vying for positions on the board are Ann Holsen, David
Bowman, and Mary Lofy Blahnik, three individuals who, despite their claims of
nonpartisanship, have demonstrated a clear alignment with liberal ideologies
that threaten to undermine the quality and integrity of our schools. As
concerned citizens, it is our duty to examine the records, statements, and
associations of these candidates to determine their fitness for the vital roles
they seek. In this blog post, we will delve into the troubling evidence that
exposes Holsen, Bowman, and Blahnik's liberal agendas, raising serious doubts
about their ability to provide the impartial, student-focused leadership our
school board so desperately needs. Join us as we shed light on the true colors
of these candidates, exposing the risks they pose to our children's education
and the future of our community.
Mary Lofy Blahnik
Mary Lofy Blahnik
“In the fall of 2022, I left my Green Bay HR position
briefly, as I was hired as the Director of HR for Manitowoc Public Schools. At
that time, I was very concerned about the leadership of the central office and
School Board, so after just two months, I returned to Green Bay, as I was not
interested in being part of a leadership team that was making decisions that
did not put student learning first.”
Mary Lofy Blahnik's history of job-hopping between seven
different school districts is a cause for concern. Blahnik spent a mere two
months working in the very district she is now running to represent on the
school board, only to leave because she disagreed with the direction the
district was heading. This brief and unsatisfactory stint calls into question
her ability to work collaboratively with other board members and administrators
to enact positive change. This troubling pattern of behavior suggests that
Blahnik may not be committed to the MPSD and could potentially abandon her post
on the school board when faced with challenges or disagreements. The MPSD
deserves someone who will move the district forward, not a quitter who will
leave you, the voters.
Mary Lofy Blahnik's attempt to leverage her volunteerism
with a certified therapy dog as relevant experience for serving on the
Manitowoc School Board is a prime example of her misplaced priorities and lack
of understanding of the role of a school board member. Her work with therapy
dogs is by no means a qualification for making critical decisions about our
children's education, curriculum, and school policies. Blahnik's emphasis on
her volunteer work with therapy dogs suggests a superficial approach to the
complex issues facing our schools and a failure to grasp the gravity of the
responsibilities she seeks to undertake.
Mary Lofy Blahnik's self-proclaimed expertise in
"equity and inclusion initiatives and practices" is a concerning
indication of her commitment to pushing a liberal agenda within our schools.
While the principles of equity and inclusion may sound appealing on the
surface, they often serve as thinly veiled attempts to promote a particular
ideological viewpoint at the expense of academic excellence and fairness.
Ann Holsen
Ann Holsen
While Ann Holsen frequently touts her experience in the
nuclear sector as her primary qualification for the school board, she has yet
to explain how this background is relevant to the challenges facing our schools
today. The skills and knowledge required to succeed in the nuclear industry are
vastly different from those needed to effectively manage educational
institutions and shape policies that will benefit our students. Holsen's
inability to connect her work experience to the realm of education raises serious
doubts about her suitability for the school board.
It is clear that Holsen's attempt to portray herself as a
nonpartisan centrist is a facade. Her reluctance to address key issues
directly, her use of Democratic buzzwords, and the color of her campaign signs
being Kamala Harris blue, demonstrate that she is, in fact, a liberal candidate
attempting to deceive voters. Our school board needs members who are
transparent, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to the best interests of
our children, not those who hide behind empty rhetoric and vague statements.
She refuses to directly answer questions about keeping pride
materials and pornographic books in schools and if DEI should be implemented.
Instead, she resorts to using buzzwords like "inclusive environments for
all learners," a common tactic employed by Democratic candidates to mask
their true intentions.
When questioned about her stance on the Success for All
curriculum change, Holsen admitted, "I am currently not a K-12 curriculum
expert." This raises serious concerns about her ability to make informed
decisions on crucial educational matters.
David Bowman
David Bowman
David Bowman retired from MPSD in 2024 and had a salary of
$77,841, not including benefits. This salary was 15% higher than the average
and 14% higher than the median salary in the MPSD and 18% higher than the state
average.
David Bowman's time as a choir teacher does not
automatically qualify him for a position on the school board. Managing a
classroom and conducting a choir are vastly different from the complex
responsibilities and decision-making required of a school board member.
Bowman's background does not demonstrate the necessary skills and expertise
needed to navigate the multifaceted challenges of educational policy and
administration. Our schools need leaders with a diverse set of experiences and
a deep understanding of the issues at hand, not just those who can
"conduct their way through a meeting."
David Bowman's associations and views raise serious concerns
about his ability to serve on the school board impartially. Bowman's Facebook
friendships with special interest group ALLY (created by Dayna Goetz) leaders
Bernie Starzewski, Jennifer Gleichner, and Lisa Johnston (current Vice Chair of
the Manitowoc County Democratic Party), as well as school board members Keith
Shaw and Kerry Trask (former chair of the Manitowoc County Democratic Party),
suggest a strong alignment with liberal ideologies.
When questioned about his stance on Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI), Bowman referred to an article promoting DEI, indicating his
support for this controversial approach. Furthermore, he has expressed his
approval of ALLY stickers and pride flags in schools, which many parents
believe are inappropriate for educational settings.
Bowman's opposition to school choice is another alarming
aspect of his candidacy. By denying families the right to choose the best
educational options for their children, Bowman reveals his preference for a
one-size-fits-all approach that disregards the unique needs and values of
individual students.
To further emphasize David Bowman's alignment with liberal
ideologies, it is worth noting that his yard signs bear the same design as
those of known liberal school board member Keith Shaw. This striking similarity
in campaign materials suggests a coordinated effort and shared agenda between
the two, raising questions about Bowman's claim to be an independent voice for
our children's education.
In light of these facts, it is evident that David Bowman's
candidacy is driven by a liberal agenda that prioritizes special interests over
the well-being and education of our children. Our school board needs members
who are objective, open-minded, and committed to providing a quality education
for all students, not those who push a particular ideology at the expense of
our children's futures.
Bowman In His Own Words
Bowman In His Own Words
"To my fellow
Christians who are cheering for Christian Nationalism... I wonder how many of
our founding Fathers would be heretics in your eyes..." "Are you
really in a position to question Harris's "record on crime" if you
nominate a convicted felon?" "I have seen a video of him stumping
another legislator using bible references to explain why she is wring in
supporting Trumpsim and Christian Nationalism. It is powerful!" "One
of the reasons I decided I SHOULD retire. There was no way I would have been
able to keep my opinions to myself this coming election cycle."
"Also... it will be able to fight more easily from outside than from the
inside..." "I cannot support the current iteration of the GOP cozying
up to dictators around the world at the expense of our relationships with
democracy... You can listen to the leader of the GOP speak right now and hear
him state what he believes. It is misogynistic, homo-phobic, racist,
anti-worker..." He also made a comment criticizing the GOP for going after
birth control. "Democrats support the majority of what I believe in."
David Bowman's statements reveal a troubling lack of
impartiality and a strong alignment with liberal ideologies. By openly
criticizing Christian Nationalism, questioning the GOP's stance on crime, and
expressing support for Democratic policies, Bowman demonstrates his inability
to separate his personal political beliefs from that of the role of the school
board. Bowman's declaration that he "cannot support the current iteration
of the GOP" due to its alleged coziness with dictators and supposed
misogyny, homophobia, racism, and anti-worker sentiments is a clear indication
of his partisan bias. His comment criticizing the GOP for "going after
birth control" and his admission that "Democrats support the majority
of what I believe in" further underscore his liberal leanings. Moreover,
Bowman's statement that he decided to retire because he "would not have
been able to keep [his] opinions to [himself] this coming election cycle"
raises concerns about his ability to serve on the school board with the
required objectivity and professionalism.
"It is not within the role of the schools (or the
country) to pass judgment one way or another on how a student (or anyone)
identifies. It is our role to ensure each student is able to achieve their full
potential. From personal experience with transgender students, the discomfort
they tend to show in their bodies seems quite debilitating. In Wisconsin, we
have some guidelines from the WIAA. Students that are trans and let’s be honest
the concern is about trans-females, must be on a year of medically documented
testosterone blockers before they are allowed to participate in sports." -
David Bowman
David Bowman's response to the issue of Title IX and
transgender students in sports reveals a concerning lack of understanding and a
willingness to prioritize political correctness over fairness and safety.
Bowman asserts that schools should not pass judgment on how a student
identifies, but this stance fails to acknowledge the very real biological
differences between males and females that can create an uneven playing field
in sports. By disregarding these differences, Bowman's approach risks undermining
the hard-fought gains of Title IX, which was designed to ensure equal
opportunities for female athletes. Furthermore, Bowman's focus on the
"discomfort" of transgender students ignores the potential discomfort
and unfairness experienced by female athletes who may be forced to compete
against biologically male opponents. While compassion for all students is
important, it should not come at the expense of fairness and safety in sports.
Bowman's reference to require trans-female, biological male, athletes to undergo
a year of testosterone blockers before participating in sports, is an
inadequate solution. This requirement does not fully address the physical
advantages that biological males may have, even after a period of hormone
therapy. In light of these concerns, it is clear that David Bowman's stance on
Title IX and transgender athletes is misguided and potentially detrimental to
the integrity of girls' sports in our schools. Our school board needs members
who can balance compassion with fairness and prioritize the well-being of all
students, not those who sacrifice fairness on the altar of political
correctness.
The Three
The Three
Ann Holsen, David Bowman, and Mary Lofy Blahnik are listed
as recommended candidates on the Manitowoc County Democratic Party's (which they spoke at a meeting of) and Wisconsin
Education Association Council’s websites. These affiliations raise serious
doubts about their ability to remain impartial and stand up to the teachers'
union (Manitowoc Education Association) and special interest group ALLY (which the three were invited to a meet and greet at the creator's house and attended).
Instead, it appears that these candidates would join forces with these groups,
prioritizing their interests over those of our students and community.
The current school board is run by the teacher’s union. We
do not need more of the same. Electing candidates like Bowman and Mary Lofy
Blahnik would only perpetuate this biased viewpoint and create a conflict of
interest due to their previous district payroll’s.
Bowman's and Blahnik’s attack on the Success for All (SFA)
program, which has been the only program to demonstrate success in years, is
troubling. Despite acknowledging that aspects of SFA have helped improve test
scores, they support the board's decision to terminate the program without
providing a clear, research-driven alternative. By dismissing the positive
impact of SFA, they demonstrate a lack of commitment to evidence-based
decision-making and a disregard for the needs of our students, along with a disregard
of the non-sustainability among staff of changing programs after a short time.
These three candidates have demonstrated a lack of
commitment to the school board by failing to attend meetings before announcing
their candidacy. This raises doubts about their willingness to dedicate the
necessary time and effort to serve effectively.
In light of this information, it is evident that Ann Holsen,
David Bowman, and Mary Lofy Blahnik are not suited for a nonpartisan school
board position. Our school board needs members who can put aside their personal
political beliefs and prioritize the well-being and education of all students,
not those who use their position to advance a particular ideological agenda of
their liberal allies.
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