Mari Barke is the director of CPC’s California Local Elected Officials (CLEO), a membership organization that supports, advises, and educates local elected and appointed officials who stand for financial sustainability, government transparency and results-driven governance. Mari is also President of the Orange County Board of Education. She is a frequent public speaker on good governance and effective school board leadership. Mari produced three virtual trainings for local elected officials along with Lance Christensen: the CLEO Candidate Academy, the CLEO Leadership Academy, and the CLEO Strategy Academy. Mari and Lance also regularly join forces to provide in-person trainings to potential candidates and local leaders throughout the state. Prior to joining CPC, Mari was a finance executive in commercial insurance before taking over as president of a mid-sized independent retail clothing company in Southern California. A committed political activist, she has worked on two presidential campaigns, and was a California delegate to her party’s 2016, 2020 and 2024 national conventions. Mari is also a California State Delegate and serves on the state board as South Region Vice Chair of the California Republican Party.
Academic achievement is no longer a priority in many school districts around the country. Unfortunately, many school boards veer from their main mission of academic excellence and have become preoccupied with pursuing cultural issues such as gender, social justice and equity. In many districts, there is more focus on critical race theory than critical thinking. ...
By Mari Barke
a new form will got here