Dr. Jeff Cole, a distinguished education leader and special-education teacher, is campaigning for a return to the Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD) board. Cole, who previously served as president of the AESD board, cites serious concerns regarding the fiscal health and future of the district and others in the county. His primary objective, according to the source, is to implement structural reform within what it describes as "bloated bureaucracies."
A central point of discussion surrounding Dr. Cole is his withdrawal from the primary election for Orange County Superintendent of Education, where he had intended to run against Dr. Stefan Bean.
The source describes the Orange County Board of Education (OCBOE) as having a far-right political makeup, dedicated to supporting the charter school industry and, according to the source, approving charters even after local districts have rejected them. The Board is also characterized by the source as galvanizing voters on "Culture War" controversies and maintaining its composition with backing from the charter school industry and the OC Republican Party, which the source notes is co-chaired by Leandra Blades.
For years, the Board worked with OC Superintendent of Schools Al Mijares, described by the source as an honest, competent, and popular leader. Mijares, appointed in 2012 by an earlier, more moderate Republican iteration of the Board, was re-elected and, according to the source, accomplished significant work despite difficulties created by the Board. In 2022, Mijares defeated Dr. Stefan Bean, described by the source as an "extremist candidate," by a margin of 55% to 45%, even with substantial financial support for Dr. Bean from the charter industry and the OC Republican Party. The Register, according to the source, declined to endorse Dr. Bean, citing what it described as his "unsubstantiated conspiracy-peddling."
Following Al Mijares' death from cancer in January 2025, the Board appointed Dr. Bean to fill the Superintendent vacancy. When Dr. Bean came up for election last June, Dr. Cole filed to run against him. The source states that Dr. Cole "could have won" and that those aligned with Dr. Bean and the OCBOE were concerned about this possibility, taking extensive measures to keep Dr. Cole off the ballot.
Mark Bucher, identified as a board director of the California Policy Center, spearheaded efforts to remove Dr. Cole from the ballot. Bucher, supported by a team of Republican attorneys from Sacramento, filed a lawsuit against the registrar of voters. This legal action utilized an ambiguously worded 2024 law, which updated the requirements for County Superintendent from an "administrative authorization" (which Dr. Cole definitely possesses) to an "administrative credential" (whose definition was contested).
According to the source, even the Republican lawyers opposing Dr. Cole believed he had a "50-50 chance of prevailing" in court, a sentiment echoed by OC Democrat attorney Lee Fink, whom Dr. Cole consulted. However, the financial risk was significant; if Dr. Cole had not prevailed, he could have faced legal fees amounting to $100,000 for both sides. Additionally, an unfavorable ruling could have negatively impacted other races, such as those in San Mateo.
The legal challenge was not the sole pressure Dr. Cole reportedly faced. The source details an anonymous phone call Dr. Cole received, in which a man menacingly asked, "Who do you think you are, running against Stefan Bean?" Individuals working at Dr. Cole’s house while he was away reported two men who visited, yelling his name and stating they would return later. The next day, a process server delivered Bucher's lawsuit papers, though the server denied knowledge of the previous day's visitors. Dr. Cole subsequently installed security cameras. Moreover, one of the Sacramento attorneys reportedly told Dr. Cole that "All of this will go away if you just drop out."
Considering these factors, including the potential financial burden and concerns for his safety, Dr. Cole sought judicial permission to withdraw from the race, which was granted. The source clarifies that reports from the Register and other press, which suggested or implied Dr. Cole was removed by court order, were inaccurate; he voluntarily withdrew. Consequently, Dr. Bean ran unopposed.
Dr. Cole warns of a scenario where local districts facing financial failure, particularly in Anaheim and Santa Ana, could default. In such an event, these districts could be taken over by the OC Department of Education, now led by Dr. Stefan Bean. This takeover, the source explains, would occur in stages, with a "fiscal expert" and then a "financial adviser" dictating spending and priorities. The source suggests that the OCDE has been negligent in its fiscal oversight, pointing to recent failures and "unnecessary teacher firings" in Santa Ana and AUHSD, which it attributes to a "benign neglect" by a department and superintendent who, ideologically, may not support public education.
Dr. Cole, whom the source likens to a "Cassandra" for his warnings, projects a decline in enrollment and state funding until at least 2030, anticipating a recurrence of crises like those seen in 2024. He laments that the most vulnerable members of a district—staff and teachers—are invariably the victims of these crises.
Conversely, Dr. Cole notes that District Administration, like other bureaucracies, continues to expand, leading to increased administrators' salaries and benefits. Dr. Cole, along with other reform-minded individuals mentioned in the source, advocates for necessary cuts in administration rather than among teachers or staff. He has publicly stated that, if re-elected as a trustee, he would resign before issuing layoff notices to teachers, as AUHSD did in 2024.
Regarding the "Community Schools" movement, which has seen new permanent funding in California, Dr. Cole believes the success lies in its implementation. While the concept of greater parent, student, and teacher involvement and expanded campus services is widely supported, Dr. Cole views Community Schools as a model for appropriately positioning Administration in a supportive role, "rightsizing" it, and fostering democracy and justice in education, all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Dr. Cole's concerns for the district stem from his previous tenure on the AESD Board many years ago, motivating his current campaign.
