Palo Alto Candidate Used District Email for Campaign
Linda Henigin faces district review for using school resources to solicit endorsements and recruit student interns.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Administration
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Palo Alto school board candidate Linda Henigin is under investigation by the Palo Alto Unified School District for using her district email account to solicit campaign endorsements and recruit student interns. The district initiated the review after a public records request revealed her use of public resources for political activities.
Why it matters
District policy and state law strictly prohibit the use of public resources for political campaigning. The situation raises concerns regarding the appropriate use of school district infrastructure during an election cycle.
Violations of campaign resource laws can carry a minimum potential fine of $1,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 3 years. The district also removed a digital slide deck ad that had been promoting the candidate's campaign for student volunteers.
The players
Linda Henigin
She is a school board candidate and an employee at Duveneck Elementary School.
Jason Glass
He serves as the Superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District.
Erika Gardiner
She is a named endorser for the Henigin campaign on the candidate's official website.
The details
Henigin, an aide at Duveneck Elementary School, utilized her work account to contact a teacher and received principal approval to email coworkers regarding her campaign. While four employees responded to these emails, the district is now implementing mandatory reminders for staff regarding political activity requirements.
Timeline
January 27, 2026: Henigin contacted a teacher to recruit interns.
June 2, 2026: Henigin received permission to email coworkers.
June 5, 2026: Henigin sent emails soliciting endorsements.
August 21, 2026: The district received a complaint about the campaign ad.
September 29, 2026: Henigin accepted responsibility for the emails.
The Big Picture
This event highlights the transparency enforced by the California Public Records Act, which allows residents to scrutinize the conduct of public officials and school board candidates. By mandating disclosure, such laws serve as a check against the improper use of tax-funded resources for private political gain.
Residents should be aware that the district is now reviewing its internal political activity guidelines to ensure future compliance. Voters can expect stricter enforcement of district communication policies as the election approaches.
The takeaway
Maintaining a clear boundary between school resources and political campaigning is essential for preserving the integrity of district elections. Candidates are reminded that the use of public infrastructure for private benefit is a significant violation of both institutional policy and state law.
Further reading
For more information on local governance, visit the Administration section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Palo Alto Daily Post.
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