Vote forSteve Kooy.

01 / THE CAMPAIGN

My Campaign Approach

This is my second time running for school board. I believe a strong community depends on people being willing to give their time in service to others, and serving on the school board is one way to do that.

Principles and accountability

My faith and conservative principles are central to who I am and guide how I approach life and make decisions. Serving others also comes with a responsibility to listen, be honest about where you stand, and remain accountable for your decisions. Those are principles I strive to live by every day, treating people fairly regardless of their political affiliation or whether we agree on every issue.

Serving the whole community

The school board is a nonpartisan position, and I believe it should be approached that way. My focus is on the needs of our students, families, and community, regardless of political affiliation.

A self-funded campaign

I am also self-funding this campaign and am not seeking contributions. That means I answer to the community, not to donors, and I intend to stay accountable to the people I represent—regardless of how they vote.

02 / LEADERSHIP & FAITH

My Beliefs in Government Leadership

Conservative Christian principles are extremely important to me, and I try to live by them every day, including in the decisions I make. I believe that one day I will be held accountable for those decisions, especially when serving in a leadership position, whether at work, on a church board, or on the school board.

Faith and public office

That said, I do not believe public office is meant to impose Christianity on the people it represents. In my lifetime, using government to advance Christianity has become an increasingly popular position among some Christians, but I don't believe this is the example Christ gave us.

Consider the time in which Jesus lived. The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful governments in history. If spreading Christianity through government were the goal, what better opportunity than the Roman Empire and its emperor? Yet Jesus did not pursue that approach. Instead, he chose to reach people individually, including fishermen, religious leaders, and those who were hurting, such as the woman at the well. I don't believe that was a coincidence.

Lessons from history

History also gives us reasons to question the effectiveness of state-enforced religion. Western Europe, once the center of state-supported Christianity, is now one of the most secular regions in the world. We see similar questions about the effects of government-enforced religion in modern-day Iran. I believe faith is much more meaningful when it is freely chosen rather than required by government.

How I will serve

My faith will guide how I serve on the school board, and I will do my part to protect and support policies that align with my beliefs. I will be accountable for the decisions I make, and I believe that responsibility includes listening to people who may not share my beliefs, treating them with respect, and making decisions that serve the students, families, and community I represent.