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Why I’m Running

2 min readJul 20, 2022

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I’m running for School Board in Loudoun County. I want to tell you why.

I was raised by two working parents in Loudoun, where I grew up supported by free lunch and the CASA programs provided by Loudoun County Public Schools. In elementary school, my own future was bolstered when a school speech-language pathologist helped me overcome a speaking disability.

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At 17, I attended my first School Board meeting to advocate for crucial LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections for Loudoun County students and staff. I have advocated for policies that uplift our communities ever since.

I’ve served in many roles in the years since, among them small business owner, community organizer, and public policy advocate. Through it all, I have ensured that — when our community needed someone — I was there. From organizing vaccine access at the height of COVID-19 to guaranteeing mental health services for vulnerable populations, when the call to serve came, I answered.

Now, we find ourselves at a crossroads in Loudoun. Our community deserves a proven leader that we can trust to stand up to bad-faith attacks on public education. We need a leader that will not take credit without also taking responsibility when tough decisions need to be made. A leader that will fight to empower, inspire, and prepare every student to reach their full potential.

That’s the kind of leader I’m prepared to be for our community.

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Nick Gothard
Nick Gothard

Written by Nick Gothard

2022 Candidate for Loudoun County School Board, Broad Run District. Community organizer and policy advocate.