BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 The effort to remove two Kern High School District trustees has hit a roadblock after a judge questioned the petition\u2019s claims \u2014 and the recall could be stopped before it even starts.<\/p>\n
Steven Rodrigue is the area 2 KHSD Board of Trustee and he says, \u201cI was very pleased with the judge\u2019s ruling. Oftentimes, you see something like this and think it\u2019s just politics \u2014 even when there are clearly untrue statements meant to confuse the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
A recall petition against Manriquez and Rodrigue was started in December by Penny Lepisto \u2014 who narrowly lost to Manriquez in the November 2024 Area 3 KHSD trustee race.<\/p>\n
It was filed after Manriquez and Rodrigue voted against a resolution to ban biological boys from competing on girls’ sports teams. A judge called the petition \u201cfalse and misleading,\u201d raising questions about its credibility.<\/p>\n
David Manriquez is the area 3 KHSD Board of Trustee and he says, \u201cMake sure you have the facts. Make sure the people signing the petition understand what they\u2019re signing. Some individuals who signed, I don\u2019t think, knew what they were signing. I just encourage people to educate themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manriquez tells me that regardless of the board\u2019s vote, it would not determine who can play on a sports team \u2014 that decision is governed by state law. Both Rodrigue and Manriquez say this issue is ultimately a matter for state and federal lawmakers. Also adding that either decision could have led to a lawsuit against the district \u2014 something they believe would not be fair to students.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy colleagues and I have the best interests of kids first and foremost. The fact that Mr. Manriquez and I \u2014 who are from different political parties \u2014 are both being criticized over the same issue shows that this doesn\u2019t affect students the way some people think it does.\u201d Rodrigue said. <\/p>\n
Manriquez and Rodrigue both say that throughout this process, their priority has remained the same \u2014 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decisions we made were first for the students, and second to keep the district from getting sued down the road,\u201d Manriquez said. <\/p>\n
For now, the recall petition is off the table \u2014 unless the proponent decides to start gathering new signatures. <\/p>\n
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