Keeping Education the Priority: Authur Gorman Rallies Area 2 Supporters

Kari Chilson
14 hours ago
4 min read

ANDERSON, Calif. — Friends, parents, and neighbors filled the Anderson VFW on Friday, August 28, for a lively campaign dinner in support of Authur Gorman, the Area 2 incumbent seeking re-election to the Shasta County Board of Education. The cashless evening offered good food, prize drawings, a live auction, and the kind of fellowship that has marked Gorman’s years of service as a nurse, coach, father, and trustee.

The night was built around the three pillars of his campaign: academic excellence, parent partnership, and accountability. Campaigns, Gorman reminded the room, take time, talent, and treasure—and the crowd showed up ready to give all three.

A Record of Service

Gorman is a husband to Katie and a proud father of three. For more than 17 years, he has served Shasta County as a registered nurse, caring for families in some of life’s most critical moments. He earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Shasta Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Simpson University, a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Phoenix, and a specialized certification in public health nursing. He is also a Patriot Academy graduate and constitutional coach.

His community work runs just as deep. He volunteered in youth sports as a league director and coach, served two years on the Junior Wolves Board, and founded Upward Flag Football in Shasta County. As director, he oversaw a program serving nearly 300 students and coordinated a large volunteer team to help young people grow in teamwork, character, and confidence. As an RN, he has also supported schools across the county through programs and events.

He currently serves as Area 2 trustee (term December 2022–2026). Additional leadership includes serving as Board President of the County Committee, an appointee to the Public Health Advisory Board, Vice Chair of the Shasta County Republican Central Committee, executive board service with Moms for Liberty Shasta, founding membership in the GOP Union Caucus, and earlier work as a nurses' union representative.

What He Stands For

Gorman’s message is simple and consistent: keep schools focused on education.

Academic excellence.

He wants rigorous instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, and civics so every student is prepared for college or a strong vocational or technical career. He often talks about supporting great teachers, upholding high standards, and putting learning first so that students, families, and the whole community benefit.

Parent partnership.

Education, he says, is a shared responsibility. Parents are not obstacles; they are essential partners. He emphasizes transparency, open communication, and respect for parental rights so families stay at the center of decisions that affect their children.

Accountability.

He presses for measurable results, responsible governance, and fiscal discipline. Taxpayer dollars, in his view, should be spent wisely and directed toward student achievement and safe, effective schools—not away from the classroom.

He also stresses local control. School boards, he argues, are the elected bodies closest to children and classrooms. Neither Sacramento nor Washington can replace that duty. Safe campuses, clear priorities, and personal responsibility are, for Gorman, the foundation of a healthy community.

On his campaign site, he puts it this way: “I am committed to keeping schools focused on their core mission: providing every student with a high-quality education.”

Remarks at the Dinner

Gorman thanked the room for standing with families and local schools. After he first joined the board, he said he often found himself standing alone. He credited fellow county board colleagues Teresa Roberts and Jackie LaBarbera for joining him in building a board that fights for parents and students.

He used those early battles—including policies he opposed on compelled speech and discipline—to make a larger point: school boards decide what happens in local classrooms. Shasta County has roughly two dozen school districts, each responsible for children’s education. Statewide, he noted, many people vote for governor, while far fewer vote in school board races, often because they do not know the candidates. “So that's why we got these amazing people to run for school...We have 25 different school districts in Shasta County, and they're all in charge of your children's education...They're your elected body to stand in the way of a tyrannical government,” he told supporters.

So that's why we got these amazing people to run for school...We have 25 different school districts in Shasta County and they're all in charge of your children's education...They're your elected body to stand in the way of a tyrannical government.

He praised Oak Run and Happy Valley for refusing to shut schools when pressure came from above. He credited parents, grandparents, and local boards with pushing back—including legal action that underscored that local boards, not the state, had closed classrooms and therefore could reopen them. That courage, he said, inspired more people to get involved.

He asked guests to take yard signs, learn who is running in their own district, and help get out the vote for candidates who will protect academic focus, parental voice, and local control. He also highlighted his friend, Sonja Shaw, a candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction, and her work to ensure girls’ sports and private spaces remain fair and safe for girls.

A planned video did not run during the program. Gorman invited everyone to watch it and other campaign videos on his Facebook page. He was also recently a guest on the podcast Dads Step Up with Matt Ward and Sonja Shaw, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9woy7SXHHw.

He closed by thanking the crowd for their time, talent, and treasure, asking for a strong finish in his own race and for school board candidates throughout the county.

Election Day is November 3, 2026.

To volunteer, request a yard sign, donate, or get tickets and updates, contact the campaign at (530) 356-6429 or visit voteauthurgormanforboardofeducation2026.com.