Christian conservative school board candidates take lead in Placer County elections

School board candidates backed by a Christian conservative political action committee in Placer County leading in election results.

At Rocklin Unified School District, two of three candidates linked to Destiny Church and the American Council political action committee are in position to keep their seats, while the other one is trailing behind.

And in Roseville’s Dry Creek School Board, three newcomer candidates supported by the American Council are on track to win.

Destiny Church pastor Tiffany Saathoff was poised to keep her seat on the Rocklin board. She took the lead Wednesday morning 19.4% of votes.

Dereck Counter, a church-supported incumbent up for re-election, was in second place with 16.8% of votes. Kari Hamilton, who’s running after years of speaking out at school board meetings against mask mandates and remote learning, is now in second-to-last place with 16.2% of votes.

They’re the three Rocklin Unified candidates supported by the American Council, a political action committee founded by Destiny Church’s marketing director. The committee promotes a “biblical worldview” in local politics.

The Rocklin election calls for voters to pick three candidates. In third place is Michelle Sutherland, who is just behind Counter with 16.6% of votes.

In Roseville’s Dry Creek School Board elections, the Christian conservative “J-Team” — Jon Fenske, Jason Walker and Jean Pagnone — are all American Council-supported candidates.

They are ahead in a race with seven candidates for three seats. Fenske is in the lead with 18% of votes as of Wednesday, and shortly behind him are Walker with 17.8% and Pagnone with 17.7%.

The American Council has pumped more than $20,000 into local school board elections, with its biggest individual donations — over $2,000 — going to Saathoff and Counter, and smaller donations of $1,000 going to the J-Team and Hamilton.

This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 10:39 PM.