Keller voters get text from ‘progressives.’ Targeted school board candidates say group is fake

Some voters in the Keller school district have received a text message suggesting that two candidates have the support of Keller ISD Progressives, a group the candidates are unaware of and one that is not registered with Texas Ethics Commission.

The text message names Place 5 candidate Beverly Dixon and Place 4 candidate Haley Taylor Schlitz, who said the texts were sent to people who voted in Republican primaries.

The message said in part, “Hey Keller ISD, vote for Haley Taylor Schlitz and Bev Dixon. These progressive candidates will fight for our values and stand up for equity.”

Dixon, 53, is seeking her third term. She said she is filing a complaint regarding the message, but did not elaborate.

“I received the text while taking prom pictures of my daughter,” she wrote in an email. “I am definitely filing a complaint. This is just one of many things that have occurred during this election cycle that have been dishonest and unethical.”

Taylor Schlitz, 20, is seeking her first term on the school board. She said she is talking to her campaign team about next steps they might want to take regarding the text message.

“Obviously, raising awareness is key as far as responding to this,” she said.

Their opponents, John Birt, who is running against Taylor Schlitz, and Chris Coker, who is running against Dixon, did not return messages from the Star-Telegram.

“The message was saying vote for me and for Beverly. It was almost provoking voters,” Taylor Schlitz said.

Taylor Schlitz said she is a teacher and has a passion for education. She said there has been “misinformation” spread about her on social media, such as that she never attended Keller schools. But she did attend from the second through fifth grade before her parents home-schooled her because the schools weren’t meeting her needs.

Taylor Schlitz said she wants to create an environment where all are welcome in public schools.

Dixon, who is also president of the Keller Chamber of Commerce, said in an endorsement interview for the Star-Telegram that she has taken a conservative stance on issues, but has tried to stay nonpartisan.

She said the process the school board adopted for dealing with library books went too far.

“I was the conservative, but now, I’m not conservative enough.”