California State PTA rules regarding endorsing candidates
Posted on 02. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in education, politics
In case you’re curious, and I’m sure some people are, here are the guidelines from page 118 of the CA State PTA Toolkit regarding endorsing candidates. They specify that a PTA officer’s title may not be used in an endorsement, but it doesn’t say the person can’t endorse someone as a private citizen.
A current or former PTA officer/board member must not use his/her title or the name of the PTA to endorse a candidate even for purposes of identification in any print, electronic, or website candidate literature (e.g., campaign mailer, ballot measure, candidate stationery).
A current PTA officer/board member must not use his/her title, the name of the PTA or the trademark of PTA
• in any election venue unless authorized by a vote of the association, following a study of the issue.
• to take action in opposition to the official California State PTA position.Although federal election regulations do not prohibit the use of organizational affiliation for identification purpos- es, the California State PTA sets a standard which is higher than law. Failure to comply may result in a viola- tion of California State PTA policy.
For the purpose of this policy, all elections involving candidates are defined as partisan elections, even those for “nonpartisan” offices such as school board or city council. Use of a PTA’s name or the PTA trademark with participation in any partisan activity will endanger PTA’s nonprofit status.
PTA members are not prohibited from running for public office themselves nor from listing PTA involvement as part of their biographical information and/or campaign literature.
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