Despite receiving several complaints about his offensive posts on Facebook and repeatedly being banned from the social media site for sharing inappropriate content, Bedford Public School District board member Todd Bruning said he will continue to live by the motto written on the banner that hangs in the window of his Michigan gun shop: “I will not censor myself to comfort your ignorance.”
He offered no apology or retraction when confronted with examples of his posts, which have been described to be anti-Muslim or anti-LGBTQ and racist. Posts have included derogatory stereotypes about black youth and attacks on individuals from other countries, transgender individuals, Muslim congressmen, and other sexual orientations. He also posted photos of a monkey dressed up in anti-Barack Obama gear.
“It has nothing to do with Bedford Schools, it’s just my personal Facebook page,” Mr. Bruning said about the posts.
“I’m in an elected position,” he continued. “If you don’t like it, don’t vote for me. ... This makes me want to continue it more.”
At least one member of the community who brought the posts to The Blade’s attention said, “It makes me wonder how he can fairly represent all of the students of Bedford with views like this.” The person asked not to be named for fear of retaliation for speaking out.
Mr. Bruning was first elected to the school board in 2014 and retained his seat in 2018. He is listed as the liaison to Bedford Township Government and is on the facilities committee.
Carl Shultz, Bedford superintendent, said it’s not the first time he’s heard complaints about Mr. Bruning’s posts. On at least two occasions, Mr. Shultz said community members have asked him about Mr. Bruning’s page or handed him printed copies of posts they found offensive. But because Mr. Bruning is not a district employee — though he does receive a small stipend from the school — Mr. Shultz said his hands are tied.
“It appears he uses social media for personal use and anything on there is his personal views,” Mr. Shultz said, adding that the district would not share such posts. “There’s no mechanism for the superintendent of schools to remove a member of the school board.”
Mr. Shultz also denies that any complaints have come from students. The district resumed classes on Tuesday.
While 90 percent of the district’s student body identifies as white, the district is home to several minorities. The school’s diversity figures show 0.2 percent of students identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, 0.8 percent as Asian American, 0.4 percent as black or African American, 5.6 percent at Hispanic or Latino, and 2.2 percent as multiracial.
According to the school’s website, “The education and welfare of our students is the focus of all Board activities,” as the seven-member board is the final voting body for decisions in the district. A review of school board minutes shows Mr. Bruning frequently moves to approve most agenda items or seconds them, but so far, none of those votes have been controversial, Mr. Shultz said. The board usually votes unanimously, he said.
“Since I’ve been here, I have not seen a single vote by Mr. Bruning or anyone otherwise that has risen an eyebrow,” Mr. Shultz said.
Mr. Bruning said Facebook recently banned him from using the site for 30 days in response to “inappropriate” content on his page, but he waved it off, saying it happens often. And though he says Mr. Shultz has talked to him about his posts in the past, he has no intention of being politically correct.
He doesn’t associate the content with his position with the school, and he said his personal views do not reflect how he feels about students. He treats everyone the same.
“None of this even comes into play,” Mr. Bruning said about his posts.
But are the posts racist?
“If people want to assume that, that’s fine,” Mr. Bruning said.
Fellow board members deferred all questions to board President Michael Smith, who is the designated spokesman. Mr. Smith is reportedly out of town and did not return The Blade’s messages.
A woman running for city council in Marysville, Mich., about an hour north of Detroit, recently dropped out of the race over reportedly racist comments she made about wanting to keep her community “a white community as much as possible.”
Jean Cramer drew national criticism and was asked by the city’s mayor to withdraw as a candidate after her comments and attempts to defend them went viral.
First Published September 6, 2019, 10:30 a.m.
