Felder says she will stay in MPS school board race despite assault accusations
KerryJo Felder
By David Pierini, Editor
KerryJo Felder said she will not back out of her campaign for an at-large seat with the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Directors despite mounting pressure to do so after she was accused of assaulting her stepchildren during a recent trip.
Education advocates with the Racial Justice Network on Wednesday called for Felder to drop out of the race and urged her key endorsers to withdraw support following the accusations in a Facebook post on Oct. 24.
Vann Daley, the former wife of Felder’s current husband, wrote that Felder was intoxicated and “assaulting everybody including my ex while he was driving” during a recent family trip to Maryland.
With less than a week left before the Nov. 8 general election, Minneapolis Federation of Teachers President Greta Callahan told North News Thursday that the union will continue to back Felder.
The candidate herself was resolute.
“Some of the things she said were valid, but when the dust settles, people will find out this was not (how Daley described it),” Felder told North News. “People know who I am, they know my work. I guess I’m hurt by where she is taking this. I’ve done nothing but love those kids.”
In a previous statement to SW Voices about the incident, Felder said she suffers chronic pain from osteoarthritis and recently weaned herself from prescription painkillers. In the statement, she said she is speaking with a doctor to determine if she has a substance abuse issue.
On Thursday, Felder shied away from discussing the statement she gave to SW Voices. She said her husband explained to her that her behavior was “annoying” and not abusive. She did not further explain what happened in the car.
Felder’s campaign manager resigned after Daley published the accusations. On Facebook, some friends are encouraging Felder to stay in the race.
Felder is one of four candidates running for two at-large seats. The other candidates are Collin Beachy, Sonya Emerick and Lisa Skjefte.
Felder served one term on the school board in the District 2 seat representing North Minneapolis before losing in 2020 to Sharon El-Amin.
The Racial Justice Network (RJN) held a news conference at the Davis Center Wednesday to urge Felder to withdraw.
"I believe KerryJo wants what’s best for MPS, and I hope she also sees that MPS children will only get the best when we are at our best, not ignoring our personal or professional pains,” said Nafessah Muhammad, an English teacher at Henry High school and executive leader for RJN. “I am asking her as a colleague and concerned parent to step down from the race and take care of herself.”
Felder said she has received lots of support expressed through text messages, calls, Facebook posts and flowers.
“Much more love has been shown to me,” she said. “It’s just not going to get a press conference.”