By Shayan Abbasi
Tim Shaw has won a decisive victory in the race for the Orange County (OC) Board of Education Trustee Area 4, defeating challenger David Johnson. Trustee Area 4 includes Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Garden Grove, Stanton, Westminster and parts of Fountain Valley. Shaw got 52,310 votes, representing 59.77% of the total, while Johnson received 35,214 votes or 40.23%.
Shaw’s reelection comes after a period marked by legal challenges related to his dual roles on the county education board and as a La Habra City Councilman, which led to his resignation from both positions. Despite these obstacles, Shaw was reappointed to the OC Board of Education by his peers and a judicial block to win reelection in 2022. This latest victory shows his strong support base among the community.
The election for Trustee Area 4 follows along with five other OC Board of Education elections, which divulges from the traditional November month calendar elections, indicative of the special nature of the Board.
Backed by the Republican Party of OC, along with endorsements from all of his fellow county board members and a host of local Republican elected officials, Shaw ran a campaign focused on protecting local control of school districts, taking politics out of the classrooms, increasing school safety and strengthening the voices of students and parents in educational decisions. His campaign successfully raised over $50,000, with large contributions from pro-charter school PACs.
David Johnson, endorsed by the Democratic Party of OC and supported by major educational organizations such as the California Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association, campaigned on a platform that was against the politicization of school policy as well and supported a reduction in wasteful legal spending. Despite his efforts and the endorsements of California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Congresswoman Katie Porter, Johnson was unable to secure enough votes for victory.
Shaw’s victory shows a continuation of a certain set of policies for OC schools, which support a conservative approach to educational governance, as evidenced by the majority of conservative members of the board. As he resumes his role, Shaw faces the task of addressing the challenges of post-pandemic education recovery, making sure students are safe in schools and being involved in the changing climate of educational needs and resources.
This election result shows the more general themes in national debates over education, such as the role of charter schools and the balance between local and state control in educational matters. As Shaw steps into his new term, the community hopes his commitments during the campaign will translate into action.
In a recent interview with Baron Banner, Shaw discussed his unexpected journey into the role of an OC Board of Education trustee.
“To be honest with you, it wasn’t really in my thought process,” Shaw said.
Approached by community members who saw his dedication as a part-time teacher at Whittier Rio Hondo College and his interest as a father of six in the public school system, Shaw has since felt compelled to consider the role. After discussing the possibility of his candidacy with his wife, he decided to throw his hat into the ring.
Shaw referenced the struggles faced by teachers and students in the post-COVID-19 environment, citing them as key motivators for his choice to run for the OC Board of Education.
He emphasized his direct engagement with educational professionals leading through initiatives such as the Teacher of the Year recognition and school visits. Even though the county board is not able to directly influence salaries and working conditions, Shaw has placed his focus on other educational issues such as school safety, both physical and online.
“We try to bring attention to a lot of issues that are out there, and we’ve talked a lot about school safety recently, just keeping kids safe,” Shaw said.
When asked about his proudest achievement during his tenure, Shaw pointed to his involvement in interdistrict transfer requests, which is overseen by the OC Board of Education. He believes it is rewarding to help the specific needs of families seeking better educational opportunities for their children.
“It’s been a lot of fun to hear the situation with a particular family and why they want to send their kid over here,” Shaw said. “You just suddenly see why we really made a difference in that family.”
