SCHOOL BOARD POLITICS
For those looking for an example of politics – on the part of both major parties – entering the world of school board elections, turn to the Troy Schools district contest this year in which five people are seeking two six-year terms in the November election. Candidate Walter Cook, who has one child in an elementary school in the district, posted a text on social media mocking the assassination of hard-right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk in September of 2025. For those not familiar, Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA and was a loud voice in the national MAGA youth movement. The Oakland County Republican party led the charge (emails, social media postings) against Cook, calling for the candidate to withdraw from the race. Said county party chairman Vance Patrick, the posting by Cook was “sick, depraved and completely disqualifying. Anyone who finds amusement in political assassination has no business anywhere near a position of authority over Troy’s children.” Party correspondence about the Kirk controversy always noted that the Republicans were backing candidate Mary Gunn for a seat on the Troy school board.
