JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A school election in Johns Creek is getting heated after a parent ran on an anti-diversity platform.
The comments have now set off a firestorm in the community.
Candidate Mike Gauthier is running for a position on the Chattahoochee High School School Governance Council in Johns Creek.
It is a group comprised of a parent, the principal and other school leaders.
“I am concerned about the direction of our community and the school,” Gauthier posted on his candidate platform. “I have seen the well-funded campaigns of ‘social justice’ and ‘diversity’ worm their way into this school over the years.”
Another parent running for the council position sent Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik a statement, saying Gauthier has a right to post his point of view, even if people don’t agree with him.
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“As a human, I find Mike’s views repugnant in their obvious contempt for the rich diversity in our community and our schools. As a Chattahoochee parent, I am sad there are parents modeling these beliefs to their kids. As a fellow parent SGC candidate, I DO NOT think Mike should have been prevented from running or that his candidate statement should have been disallowed or censored. When people show us who they are, we should believe them the first time. The transparency he’s shown allows parents to make an informed decision about who they want representing their families and working for their kids.”
Roseline Jean Louis has two children at Chattahoochee High School.
“It still catches me off guard when people are willing in open with saying things like that,” Jean Louis told Petchenik. “It’s not right. It’s definitely not right.”
Jean Louis said Chattahoochee High is a very diverse school. She’s concerned the district even allowed someone with Gauthier’s views to run for a position of power.
“He did that because he knows that there are people that will vote for him just because he said that. And that’s even more frustrating, knowing that that’s where I live and the people surrounding me,” Jean Louis said.
Petchenik contacted Gauthier directly on Wednesday for comment on this story and he texted back saying he doesn’t speak to the media.
Fulton County Schools said Gauthier’s comments are his viewpoint and don’t reflect the school or district’s position.
Cox Media Group
