GOP and Rohrabacher Endorsements of Divisive School Board Candidate are Blasted

By Matt Coker — OC Weekly

The Orange County Republican Party Central Committee on Monday endorsed controversial candidate Gracey Larrea-Van Der Mark for the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees–much to the chagrin of the Anaheim-based Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA).

Meanwhile, Larrea-Van Der Mark’s support from Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-Putin’s study buddy) is being blasted by the Democratic candidate facing off against the 15-term congressman on Nov. 6.

As the Weekly has reported, Larrea-Van Der Mark has curated a “Holocaust hoax?” YouTube playlist, promoted Islamophobic conspiracy theories on Facebook, referred to African Americans as “colored people” and protested a white privilege workshop alongside alt-right agitators who were scheduled speakers at Charlottesville’s Unite the Right rally days later.

“It is unconscionable that the OC GOP would endorse a candidate who has proven herself to be an equal-opportunity bigot,” says CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush in a statement. “That the OC GOP would make Ms. Larrea-Van Der Mark its sole endorsed candidate in this race–especially over other Republican candidates–is both shocking and telling of the message the party is sending to its constituency.”

Ayloush, whose office is part of America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy organization, pointed to a statewide report on school bullying that found 53 percent of 1,041 Muslim students in California surveyed were bullied over their religion in 2016.

“At a time when biased-driven school bullying is at an all-time high, the last thing our schools need is a bully and a bigot setting the vision and goals of a school district,” he says. “I am extremely disappointed that the leadership of the Orange County Republican Party would endorse such a divisive candidate. I hope the voters will send a clear message that bigotry and ignorance have no place in our schools.”

Larrea-Van Der Mark’s conservative views and work on two school district bond oversight committees were cited as an endorsement panel unanimously forwared its recommendation of the candidate to the full GOP central committee.

According to minutes from that panel meeting, there was no mention of the fact that Larrea-Van Der Mark was removed from the school committees because of her racially charged views and actions. One GOP endorsement panel member, retired Air Force officer Leroy Mills, did criticize Democrats for bullying Republicans before making the successful motion on Larrea-Van Der Mark’s behalf.

The CAIR statement hit the Weekly‘s inbox just after another from Harley Rouda, who is running against Rohrabacher for the 48th congressional district seat. It was in reference to Rohrabacher having tweeted on Tuesday: “Proud to be supporting Gracey Van Der Mark for school board. She is a patriot and a parent who has great potential to make a difference for our children and our state … and yes, our country.”