Respecting People and Protecting Children

I want to respond directly to concerns about comments I made in Facebook some years ago and later at the Midpines Candidate Forum. I am not anti-LGBTQ. I do not support mistreating, demeaning, or discriminating against anyone because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Every Mariposa County resident deserves dignity, respect, and equal treatment.

I also recognize that my earlier comparison to Nazi propaganda was inflammatory and distracted from the concern I was trying to express. I should not have used that comparison. My concern is the protection of children and the proper role of parents—not hostility toward LGBTQ adults or children.

Across political, religious, and cultural lines, the public has a deep and understandable abhorrence of grooming, sexual exploitation, and abuse of children. I want to be precise about that word. By "grooming," I mean the deliberate manipulation of a minor—through trust, secrecy, pressure, isolation, or emotional control—for the purpose of sexual exploitation or abuse. That conduct is wrong in every circumstance, regardless of who commits it or how that person identifies.

The word should not be used as a blanket accusation against LGBTQ people, teachers, counselors, parents, or advocates merely because people disagree about policy. Protecting children requires facts, clear standards, and accountability. It means age-appropriate materials, parental transparency and involvement, firm professional boundaries, and prompt investigation of credible allegations of misconduct.

Parents should have a meaningful voice in what their children are taught and what services are provided to them. Children should never be pressured into sexualized conversations or exposed to materials that are not appropriate for their age. They should never be manipulated, exploited, or encouraged to keep inappropriate secrets from their parents or guardians. At the same time, no child should be bullied, humiliated, or treated as less worthy because of personal questions or identity.

My Christian faith informs my personal values, but public office requires me to represent and treat fairly people of every faith and viewpoint. My position is straightforward: respect every person, protect every child, involve parents, insist on transparency, and judge conduct by the same standard for everyone. As a supervisor, I will listen carefully, use measured language, and focus on policies that protect families while treating all residents fairly.