Liberty School Board: Michael Todd Steps Down, Says Democrat Kellie Zimmerman as Chair Would Be a “Wake-Up Call” for Republicans
Zimmerman is a registered Democrat, and under Maricopa County Republican Committee bylaws, Republicans are prohibited from supporting non-Republicans — a party rule looms over Todd’s next move.
Republicans either inadvertently or intentionally supporting Democrats has become a recurring issue in Arizona politics. Increasingly, what some call “strategic abstention” appears to be the new workaround for avoiding an explicit endorsement.
In Mesa, Council-member Julie Spilsbury is facing a recall after serving as co-chair of Republicans for Kamala, a move that sparked outrage among GOP activists who say she violated the party’s core principles.
State 48 News also reported on the Prescott City Council lawsuit, where several Republican members chose not to vote during an appointment process, which ultimately allowed a Democrat to be seated.
Now, similar tensions are surfacing within the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board. Board member Michael Todd told journalist Jen Barber that he has stepped down as president, will remain on the board and “will support” fellow member Kellie Zimmerman as the next board president.
Todd is currently facing a recall, we reported on that here.
According to the Maricopa County Republican Committee bylaws, precinct committeemen are prohibited from supporting non-Republican candidates or causes. Whether through silence, abstention, or direct endorsement, those actions may be increasingly viewed as breaches of party loyalty.
Party officials confirmed to State 48 News that Section 5 applies to nonpartisan races.
MCRC Bylaws
Michael Todd expressed frustration to State 48 News, defending his position on the upcoming Liberty Elementary School Board leadership vote. Todd said he plans to abstain from voting for the next board president. When pressed about his earlier statement to Barber, he did not respond but said “he wouldn’t support Zimmerman.”
Todd said, “school boards are nonpartisan,” and “I don’t know how Kellie is registered.”
State 48 confirmed that, as of publication, board member Kellie Zimmerman is a registered Democrat in LD23.
Todd continued, “If the Republicans wanted me to do anything different, maybe they should have shown up and done some work. They have more excuses than I’ve ever heard.”
He also criticized Turning Point USA and its political influence in local education, saying, “Tyler Bowyer and the rest of Turning Point have had our conservative board on the school board watch list for over two years. You’d have to ask Tyler why he thinks that’s acceptable—aside from the amount of money TPUSA puts in his pocket. They seem to pick and choose how support goes.”
We reached out to Bowyer but did not receive a response before publication.
Despite his criticisms and earlier statement to Barber, Todd said he will not support Zimmerman’s bid for president but will abstain from voting. “This district will implode with Kellie as the president, and that may just be the wake-up call conservatives need to get involved,” he said.
Todd also raised concerns about Zimmerman’s conduct, noting, “We’ve already seen hostile work environment complaints upheld against Kellie, and people quit their jobs because of documented ways she treated them.”
The now-former Liberty Board President explained his rationale for supporting Zimmerman as chair:
“Kellie is the only person on the board other than me who has the time to do the job. It requires far more time than people realize. The idea pushed by the School Board Association that the job takes a couple of hours a month is false. An absent board may be able to do that, but a board that wants to represent the voters will find it takes far more time.”
A special meeting of the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board is set for tonight, just a few hours from now.
The community group heading up the recall of Michael Todd told State 48 News that this doesn’t change their efforts to recall him.
We need more republicans running. This state and its schools boards are about to become worse!
Might want to fact check your article. Kellie Zimmerman is registered as an independent not a Democrat. I understand journalism but it is right on Maricopa voting website. Does not say Democrat. Don't know where you got your information.