10/9/22
Endorsement by Mayor Richard Bailey
Richard Bailey
Mayor, Coronado, California
I strongly endorse Dr. Youngblood for CUSD School Board. He was a proven leader in the United States Navy, is a committed physician-educator, and a parent of two children attending CUSD. He possesses the integrity, competence, and thoughtfulness to restore civility and truly bring our community together in support of our local schools. He will make an outstanding Trustee, and will do what is right for our students, our parents, and all of Coronado.
9/27/22
Parent Teacher Organization Sponsored Debate
A 90 minute debate was held on Tuesday, 9/27/22, and eight candidates were in attendance. Please view for yourself and learn more about the candidates and issues.
9/17/22
Coronado Democratic Club Sponsored Debate
A three hour debate was held on Saturday, 9/17/22, and nine candidates were in attendance. Please view for yourself and learn more about the candidates and issues.
August 2022
Coronado Times CUSD Candidate Forum
The Coronado Times conducted short interviews with all candidates for Coronado Unified School District board of trustees. All candidates received the same six questions and the answers are in their own words; each candidate is invited to share photos; interviews are published in the order received. November 8, 2022 is election day.
Four Year Candidates (3 Seats)
8/23/22 Scot Youngblood, MD
8/17/22 Mark Scheurer, MD
8/24/22 Alexia Palacios-Peters
8/24/22 Mal Sandie
9/14/22 Stephanie Anderson
9/13/22 Michael Iversen
Two Year Candidates (1 Seat)
8/29/22 Gerri Machin
8/27/22 Renee Cavanaugh
8/24/22 Nicole Boucher
Public Statements
Letter to Editor, Eagle & Journal, 19 October 2022
Mask Efficacy
In last week’s issue, Dr. Robert Loeb took issue with comments I made regarding mask efficacy against respiratory viruses. During one of the forums I noted that the World Health Organization in 2019 reviewed the literature, and said they were not effective.
Within the medical literature there are so-called “Levels of Evidence”. The highest quality evidence (Level 1) consists of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and grouping together (meta-analyses) of multiple RCTs. The lowest quality evidence (Level 5) includes expert opinion and mechanistic studies. If a study does not achieve “statistical significance” then the medical intervention did not work. The understanding of statistics is critical to practicing evidence based medicine.
There have been some 15 RCTs looking at mask efficacy against respiratory viruses (primarily influenza), including two studies looking at COVID-19. None of them achieved statistical significance, ergo, they did not work. The summary statement by the WHO in 2019 reads, “Ten RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, and there was no evidence that face masks are effective in reducing transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.” I believe I accurately represented their conclusion in my public statements. (References at Updates page www.Youngblood4Coronado.com).
In a response to a FOIA request in April of 2021 asking for the RCTs supporting mask use to stop COVID-19, the CDC wrote, “CDC is not aware of any randomized control trials that show that masks or double masks or cloth face coverings are effective against COVID-19. There is experimental data as described below showing that masks block particles.” Thus, they reference mechanistic (Level 5) studies that masks might work. Unfortunately, the virus is 0.1 micron in size. The microaerosols on which they travel are smaller than 2 microns. The standard surgical mask fabric is effective at stopping particles 80 microns and greater in size. Of course, this ignores the fact that a significant amount of air transfer is around the edges of the mask, and not all through the fabric (the problem with mechanistic studies).
All of the above reinforces why as a society we did not wear masks to prevent yearly influenza transmission. This fundamental science did not change. In February of 2020, former head of HHS under President Obama, Sylvia Burwell, asked Anthony Fauci if she should wear a mask on an upcoming trip. In a FOIA’d email, Dr. Fauci responded, “The typical mask you buy in the drug store is not really effective in keeping out virus, which is small enough to pass through the material. It might, however, provide some slight benefit in keeping out gross droplets if someone coughs or sneezes on you. I do not recommend that you wear a mask...” That statement was accurate, and I think in this hyperpoliticized world, the closest to the truth we can get is an email between friends that they thought would remain private.
I think a fair assessment of the literature is that the highest quality Level 1 evidence shows masks do not work against respiratory viruses. The lowest quality Level 5 evidence says masks stop particles much larger than the virus and microaerosols. Regardless, I am totally fine if you want to wear a mask. I will fight for your ability to make that choice for yourself and your family. Some of my opponents will fight to take that choice away from you.
Scot Youngblood, M.D.
CUSD School Board Candidate
Statement by Scot Youngblood, MD on the RMNNT Voter Guide
9 October 2022
Since filing my candidacy for School Board, I have been inundated by solicitations to be endorsed or placed on a voter guide by over a dozen organizations, usually for a fee. Two days ago, I was informed by a local reporter that I was on the voter guide for a group called RMNNT. I have never met or spoken with any representative of this group, solicited an endorsement, or actually had even heard of this organization. Thus, I politely declined their endorsement and/or my placement on their voter guide. As when I served a career in the US Navy, I remain committed to supporting and defending the Constitution and the freedoms of all Americans, to include religious liberty, freedom of speech, and the right for any citizen to be involved in the political process. I hope that any individual voter reviews my platform and public statements, and decides for themselves whether they agree with my positions and advocacy to improve public education in Coronado. www.Youngblood4Coronado.com
Statement by Scot Youngblood, MD on Partisanship - San Diego Union Tribune Article
30 September 2022
An article in the San Diego Union Tribune on Sunday, September 25, 2022 entitled “The Conservative Parents Seeking Power on Local School Boards” presented an exceptionally biased view of parents running for school boards, to include myself. The article implies that conservative political action committees, organizations, and parties have recruited, trained, and financed conservative candidates. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Unfortunately, this has been picked up by local social media incendiaries to smear me and others with epithets and vile hateful language in an overt attempt to divide our community. This was likely responsible for someone leaving human excrement and adult male underwear by a campaign yard sign last Wednesday in my front yard. Never happened before. Civility indeed.
So, let me state for the record:
Recruitment: No political party, organization, or political action committee recruited me, other than individual citizens in Coronado who encouraged me to run for office. I waited until June 2022 to file because I did not see enough like-minded candidates running to fix the problems in our public schools. It was a difficult and reluctant decision for myself and my family.
Financing: I have not sought nor received any political party or political action committee money to finance my campaign. I have received over $8500 in contributions, solely from individual concerned citizens in Coronado and personal friends. Even School Board campaigns cost money. All the fliers, door hangers, yard signs and even the website were designed by yours truly on nights and weekends.
Endorsements: I have received an endorsement from the San Diego Republican Party. I have never been active with or held any office with the Republican Party. I hope that everyone who sees this endorsement, goes to my website, and reviews the extensive information posted there, and votes accordingly. In Coronado, almost every City Council member, Mayor, and School Board Trustee elected in recent memory has received their party’s endorsement during their first several elections. In 2020 when Casey Tanaka was on the Democratic Party’s Voter Guide for City Council and we had his campaign sign in our front yard, I do not remember this being an issue. It seems the accusations of extremism are a one-way street.
There is at least one CUSD School Board candidate who have received significant funds from a Sacramento based partisan political action committee. One candidate also served as a Board member on the Coronado Democrat Club, as well as the head of their legislative committee. Just because this candidate stepped down from these positions on the eve of an election, doesn’t make them any less partisan. Having said the above, I am fine with partisan activities and contributions. I think it just needs to be disclosed to the voters for full transparency. I will work professionally with anyone. Parents who desire to improve their local schools and provide a high quality education to all Coronado students are not extremists or racists. Vandalism to people’s homes, implied threats, and baseless outrageous accusations are clearly meant to intimidate and distract from the real issues faced by our schools.