The Katy ISD Board of Trustees race has become personal, with a PAC-funded political flyer attacking three candidates and comparing them to President Biden and former Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke.

“Bruce Bradford, Cicely Taylor, and Shana Peterson: The far-left choices for the Katy ISD school board?” the flyer said. “There’s no way we can trust Bradford, Taylor and Peterson to keep radical ideologies out of Katy classrooms.”

The Austin-based Texans for Educational Freedom PAC sent the flyer. In addition to attacking Bradford, Taylor and Peterson, the flyer endorses the slate of Amy Thieme, Morgan Calhoun and Mary Ellen Cuzela.

The PAC—for political action committee—has endorsed candidates in two other Houston-area districts, Clear Creek ISD and Spring Branch ISD, as well as other districts across the state.

According to its texansforeducationalfreedom.com website, the PAC mission “has the sole purpose of electing freedom-minded officials to school boards to ensure the liberties of our citizens.” To do this, the PAC seeks “to create a stronghold of freedom-minded elected officials in the State of Texas that will ensure the liberties of our citizens. We do this by being the most influential and strategic organization that recruits, supports, and elects candidates to fulfill our mission.”

The PAC also says if “we do not create a stronghold of freedom-minded elected officials, we will decline into a state of governmental control, where our children will not be free to choose their own destiny.”

Bradford, a mortgage loan originator, is running for position 3 against Thieme, a realtor, and Shaun Miller, a professor.

Taylor, an education administrator, is running for position 4 against Calhoun, a stay-at-home mom, and Erica Brettell, a stay-at-home mom.

Peterson, who is retired, is running for position 5 against Cuzela, a Katy ISD substitute teacher.

“I said from the beginning that I was running a clean campaign, and I’ve kept to that,” Peterson said. “This is slander. Maybe they’re concerned that I’m winning.”

As for the allegation that her views are far to the left, Peterson said she has described herself as a conservative Republican and has been open about that, even with her supporters who are Democrats.

She said this card is the third one she has received, and the first to go negative.

“I can only imagine the amount of money that they’re receiving from Texans for Educational Freedom, and what they will owe them in return,” Peterson said.

Bradford said he was “one of the fortunate few to have the card mailed directly to me.” He said the matter was disappointing.

“This is my first political foray,” Bradford said. “When people decided to start stretching the truth, altering the truth, or just lying, I think it’s an indicator of how somebody might serve in the future. I’m not going to get down into the mud and the muck.”

Bradford described his politics as “moderate-conservative,” and that he has voted Republican in every presidential election since the late 1970s, when he began voting. Still, he said, he was not going to classify himself by party.

“I wish that people would stay focused on the job at hand for a candidate or board member and that is to serve 93,000-plus children that come from diverse backgrounds,” Bradford said. “As a moderate conservative I can talk to people on the left and right, I can communicate and can serve.”

Taylor, who is making her second campaign for the board—she lost the position 1 race to Victor Perez last year—said she hasn’t seen the card yet, but was aware of it.

“I haven’t checked my mailbox,” Taylor said. “It could be in there, or it could not.”

Taylor said her politics were middle of the road.

“I’m a fairly conservative liberal,” Taylor said, adding that she doesn’t vote for the party, but educates herself on policy and votes as it aligns with her beliefs.

She described the situation as sad and very unfortunate.

“But I’ve got very thick skin and I’m committed to be above-board, all about students and families,” Taylor said. “I’ve been very clear that I’m bipartisan. I’ve been very clear that I’m for all kids, no matter what political interests you have. People can choose to put out what they put out. I won’t unfairly characterize any candidates or board members.”

It was not immediately clear whether Thieme, Calhoun and Cuzela, who have often campaigned together and have the endorsements of incumbent trustees Victor Perez and Dawn Champagne, endorse the PAC’s positions or the attack strategy it has taken. Efforts to reach Thieme, Calhoun and Cuzela for comment Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

Nor was it immediately clear how much the flyers cost to produce and mail. Such information should be available when candidates must file their financial reports Friday with the district.

Absentee voting began May 24 and runs through May 2. A candidate only needs a plurality of votes to win the election. Election Day is May 6.

UPDATE: In the initial version of this story, the Times reported that Texas for Educational Freedom was based in Houston. The Times has since learned that PAC is based in Austin and has updated the story to reflect that fact.