Bruner is running for a seat on the State Board of Education that represents a chunk of northeast Texas. She's a retired teacher who's running on a platform with planks that are common sense and starkly conservative: more administrative support for teachers, more parental involvement with students, promote "conservative curriculum standards aligned with Texas values."
So nothing too problematic there. But the results of a deep dive from The Texas Tribune into the backgrounds of several State Board of Education candidates make matters a little stickier. Bruner posted the following message to Facebook on October 26, 2015:
Her Facebook page no longer includes the post. But in a statement to the Tribune, she didn't exactly sound contrite:
“I’m not ashamed of anything that I have ever said,” Bruner said. “If I’m on the State Board of Education, I’m going to speak up for the things that I believe because I have a First Amendment right.”
And she's got plenty to say on other topics, too, including the "Muslim influence" on schools and textbooks, how climate change is a hoax to destroy American jobs, and the Communist agenda:
I should write R. Gary Stevens a thank you note for posting the negative article about me. Most of the people in SBOE...
Posted by Mary Lou Bruner on Saturday, February 13, 2016
The driver of this vehicle knows who/what is behind all of the mayhem.
Posted by Mary Lou Bruner on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
I am very honored to have the Kaufman County Tea Party endorse me for the State Board of Education District 9. If I am...
Posted by Mary Lou Bruner on Saturday, February 13, 2016
Bruner is one of three candidates vying for the District 9 seat. The State Board of Education is responsible for setting curriculum standards and approving textbooks for the state's public schools.