Russell S. Garner
Non-Partisan | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Russell S. Garner
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2023
Election
School Board
Race
Comal ISD Board of Trustees - District 4
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Yale University, New Haven, CT, BS, 1993
Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH, MS, 2005
WORK & MILITARY
United States Air Force, Colonel, 22
AFFILIATIONS
Smithson Valley All Sports Booster Club, Cross Country Representative, Catholic Youth Organization
Coach, Yale Alumni Schools Committee, San Antonio Region Director
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Comal ISD School Board Trustee, 2020-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
- Campaign Finance Documents:
- Please note: The following information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Election Voting History from Comal County Elections Department for Russell S. Garner during time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- 2022 Primary election: Republican
- 2020 Primary election: Republican
- Voted in one Democrat Primary election 2016
- Voted in three Republican Primary elections 2018 - 2022
- Voted in four General elections 2018 - 2022
**Voter history is not considered during panel evaluations.**
- Candidate Comal ISD Questionnaire
- Application for a place on the ballot.
- March 10, 2021 Incumbent vote against ‘Giving parents choice’ — Comal ISD’s board votes to make masks optional after governor drops mandate.
- March 25, 2021 Incumbent statement on mask policy.
- Please note: The following information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Disagree
School Districts need a strong voice with the legislature in support of ALL CHILDREN. However, taxpayer money should only be used for education, not lobbying.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
As a current school board trustee, I am an advocate for public education. School districts provide multiple pathways for ALL STUDENTS to become productive members of society as adults. Additionally, public education is highly regulated by the legislature since it is funded by the taxpayers. This regulation is appropriate and should be equal across the board for all publicly funded education. Currently charter schools do not face the same level of regulation as public school districts, creating an unfair system which isn't in the best interest of ALL STUDENTS. For college education, public funding is appropriate IF the institution provides an unbiased learning environment for all students. I believe the public Universities in Texas generally provide this unbiased learning environment. However, the same cannot be said for certain other states on the east and west coasts of the United States, which have become breeding grounds for a dangerous progressive political ideology, which remains unchecked by those state legislatures.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
The local school board provides governance and oversight for the school district, to include the strategic direction of the district. The most important function of the school board is to hire and evaluate the superintendent. The school board should not be active in the management of the school district, rather hold the superintendent accountable for his/her management of the district. Individual school board trustees should strive to be informed on the interworking of the district and be accessible and responsive to their constituents. Individual trustees must stay focused on positive outcomes for ALL STUDENTS and not be driven by a political agenda, nor singularly focused on one issue. Finally, all school board members must be able to represent their constituents and provide their own opinions and inputs freely while striving to work with other trustees and the superintendent to provide the best environment for ALL STUDENTS to succeed.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
Public School Curriculum is guided by the Texas Education Agency's curriculum standards, which are called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The resources for executing this curriculum are identified and procured by the professionals on the superintendent's staff with oversight from the school board.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should always be encouraged to speak at all school board meetings as a part of normal civil discourse. In Comal ISD, all of our trustees encourage parents to attend school board meetings and speak to the board during the allotted time. Parent participation in public education is critical to ensure the best outcome for ALL STUDENTS. To give each child the best chance to succeed, each parent should be involved in the educational process. Administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, and parents should work as a team on behalf of each student to ensure the success of each student. If a parent has a concern about any part of the educational process, they should speak with the teacher or administrator on their child's campus. However, if the parent is not satisfied with the response from the campus, or they have more of a philosophical disagreement with the educational process, it would be perfectly justifiable for that parent to speak at a school board meeting to ensure the school board is aware of the issue. There should never be a restriction on parents being able to speak civilly at school board meetings. Civil discourse is critical to the success of democracy and public education.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts, History (to include American History, Government & Economics), Information Technology, Vocational Learning, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Foreign Language, Art & Music. I do not view Social Emotional learning as an academic subject, rather a philosophy on addressing all of the social and emotional needs of all students as part of their education to ensure the best outcomes for ALL STUDENTS. I know that some progressives have tried to use the concept of Social Emotional Learning to further their progressive agenda; however, I obviously disagree with this progressive agenda. However, at the same time, I think public educators must address the social and emotional needs of students, especially given the isolation driven by the covid pandemic and the ongoing challenge of social media and its impact on our youth. Educators can address these needs by partnering with parents to ensure the students have access to counseling resources, and also by simply being positive mentors for their students, without a progressive political agenda. The best teachers know their students and know how to best teach and support them by developing healthy relationships with their students...which is akin to meeting their social and emotional needs. Conservatives should not let progressives steal the term "social emotional learning" to utilize it for their progressive agenda. It is an important aspect of learning having nothing to do with politics. As adults, we talk about emotional intelligence as a skillset which allows us to navigate the world and be positive contributors to society. This skillset is learned, not inherited. Students need to learn this skillset, and educators/parents can help them learn this skillset by meeting their social and emotional needs....which has nothing to do with a progressive political agenda. "Political activism" is being used as a negative phrase which I choose to ignore. I do feel strongly participation in democracy should be taught in an unbiased way in government class. Sexuality should be taught with parental consent. Gender identity and Critical Race Theory have no place in PreK-12 public education.
Which more closely matches your view of America's founding principles? A) Liberty and equality. B) Slavery and racism.
America was founded on the principles of liberty and equality, and while not perfect, we remain the beacon of liberty and equality for the entire world to follow. As our nation has evolved, the notion of equality has evolved to include all citizens. Slavery and racism are part of our nation's history which must be taught to our children so future generations do not repeat these terrible behaviors. Hover, I DO NOT believe our nation was founded on the principles of slavery and racism.
What does "equity in education" mean to you?
Equal opportunities and access to education to enable ALL CHILDREN to succeed. Educational leaders must ensure all students have access to all of the educational opportunities available in a district, and they should not limit access to one group of students over another based on socioeconomic or other factors.
Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Strongly Agree
These topics are completely different, but on the whole, I believe strongly in parental choice and parental involvement in education. Parents should absolutely have the opportunity to opt into any sex education taught at schools. The progressive take on Social Emotional Learning should not be taught in public schools. I view Social Emotional Learning not as a subject, but as a focus to support students with the resources needed to succeed, like leadership courses or counselors.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
Federal control of education would be inefficient and not supportive of ALL STUDENTS. Local control allows the local school districts to be in sync with local community values and provide the best education and opportunities for ALL STUDENTS based on parental/taxpayer involvement and partnerships with the local community.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
I believe public education is the best option for ALL CHILDREN. However, I have many friends and colleagues from the military community who choose to home school or choose private school options, and I agree with their right to choose those options. I do believe any educational option which utilizes public funding should be regulated by the state legislature equally.
School boards are accountable to parents and taxpayers.
Strongly Agree
This is a fundamental statement and I am running for the school board because it is accountable to parents and taxpayers. I believe this accountablity is a critical part of providing the best opportunities for ALL STUDENTS. School boards must be transparent in their actions to ensure the parents and tax payers can hold them accountable for providing the best opportunities for ALL STUDENTS.
Do you believe students should have access to materials that graphically depict and describe sexual acts?
No
Parental choice is an important part of sex education. Therefore, students should not have access to these types of materials without parental consent.
All print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, and I hold strongly to the belief of true Christians being non-judgmental towards other human beings and treating everyone with dignity and respect. While it can be extremely difficult to be non-judgmental in today's society, I believe we must strive to listen and learn from others, even from those whose values differ from our own. Disagreement is natural, but respect is critical for our society and our nation to succeed. I also believe strongly in the values of Integrity and Service. As an adult, a parent, a government employee and supervisor, and an elected official, I believe it is critical to set an example of always striving to do my best in all activities and always make the correct moral choices to be a productive member of society.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
This statement would violate equal opportunity for females. Biology is a fundamental aspect in athletic equity and protecting equal opportunity for females.
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Agree
"Sexual Transitioning" is not part of public education
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
Parents fundamentally should always be involved in their children's education and healthcare.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
I believe parents should have the primary responsibility for teaching sexual education to their children. However, not all parents take this responsibility seriously. Therefore I do believe it is appropriate for high school science classes to teach sexual education with parental consent.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
human anatomy/the reproductive system, stages of pregnancy and fetal development, abstinence
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
While I do not disagree with that statement, I also believe freedom of religion is also an important part of our system of limited government. Certainly Judeo-Christian values do provide a framework of morality for my family, as well as a majority of families in our nation. However, other religions can provide these same, or similiar, values.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I believe proper identification is an important aspect of a free and fair election system.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
A candidate's personal moral values are relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Agree
Morality is critical to governing.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I am not drawn to the main political parties in our nation because they tend to groom career politicians, which I do not believe was the intent of our founding fathers, therefore I consider myself an Independent. However, my beliefs and values most closely align with the Republican Party and a conservative viewpoint. In my role as a school board trustee, I must remain nonpartisan, but my beliefs and values always guide my decision making.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I have not given any interviews on my specific political beliefs. As a school board trustee, I fill a non-partisan position. However, I my beliefs are apparent based on my conduct and comments at public school board meetings, all of which can be viewed on the Comal ISD website. For example, I have been a strong advocate for parental choice within public education, which was especially important during the covid pandemic. As a board, we ensured parental choice in accordance with the policies of our state leaders.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I believe I represent my community well and have the emotional intelligence to accept input freely from all constituents while staying true to the values of our community and putting ALL STUDENTS first in my role as a school board trustee.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Neutral
I am open to considering programs which allow responsible licensed teachers to carry firearms at school; however, I rely on the expertise of local law enforcement and school safety professionals to recommend and execute the best protocols to keep our schools safe.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccine mandates are outside the domain of public education.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
Comal ISD was the first large school district in Texas to remove the mask mandate during the Covid pandemic and I stand by that decision.
All official open meetings should be live streamed, recorded, and have transcripts available online for public access.
Strongly Agree
I have long believed Comal ISD school board meetings should be live streamed and I am happy our new superintendent is working to make this a reality. All of our meetings are recorded and available on the CISD website.
All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.
Strongly Agree
School boards must be transparent to parents, taxpayers and all other constituents/stakeholders. All roll call votes for the Comal ISD school board are recorded in meeting minutes.
