Election Advocacy: Essential Do's and Don'ts
Political activities for charter leaders are limited by public agency rules, IRS restrictions, and bond covenants for financed facilities. But what about protections for political speech? The First Amendment? What about protections for legislation versus candidates? "C4" organizations?
You still have a voice and options.
In this session, presenters will explain the laws and explore useful guardrails and guidelines as we proceed through the 2026 election year.
Presented by
Jerry Simmons
Partner/Attorney at Law
Young, Minney & Corr, LLP
Jerry Simmons has represented charter schools in every aspect of their operations for more than twenty years. He has drafted charter petitions, memorandums of understanding for business and special education services, facilities use agreements, and development of school policies covering every facet of charter school operations. Jerry has also assisted charter schools with employment and labor law matters, board governance and training, zoning and building code compliance, defense of audit findings in annual and extraordinary audits, and compliance with the Brown Act, Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, and Family Educational Records Protection Act.
John Lemmo
Partner/Attorney
Young, Minney & Corr LLP
John Lemmo has advised and represented charter leaders and schools, government agencies, and nonprofits on operations, facilities, finance, governance, innovation and other legal issues for decades. A strong charter advocate, John has litigated many of the seminal charter school lawsuits that have advanced the movement. He regularly champions charter petitions/renewals, material revisions, mergers, authorizer relations, lease/purchase deals, complex regulatory matters, and strategic planning. John is a frequent presenter to CSDC and numerous other professional and academic organizations, covering charter school law and policy, education, and public agency law. He is a partner with Young, Minney & Corr LLP.
