Candidate reportedly was pushed out of previous job

A spokesman for the San Jose Unified School District who recently announced he was stepping away from that role to run for a seat on the school board in fact was asked to leave the position because of questionable social media conduct, this news organization has learned.

In a June 13 campaign announcement, one-time San Jose City Council candidate Peter Allen wrote, “As you may already know, I’ve been exploring new professional opportunities and had submitted my resignation as San Jose Unified’s public information officer, effective July 1st… The decision to run for this seat has accelerated the timeline for my departure from the district.

As of this Friday, June 15th, I will be resigning so that I can focus on my campaign and new professional endeavors.”

Yet, multiple sources both inside the district and out who asked for confidentiality because they fear reprisal, say Allen, who once worked for this news organization, was actually asked to leave, in part because of a threat he made on social media, and that his departure was in motion well before the June 5 primary created an opening on the school board.

Deputy Superintendent Stephen McMahon declined to discuss Allen’s personnel issues, citing confidentiality rules, but said, “Peter Allen’s decision to leave San Jose Unified pre-dated the June primary and any action related to the school board race… The school district was very surprised to learn of his interest to run for school board, as it had no relationship to his resignation.”

The threat stems from an early April article by San Jose Inside about Susan Ellenberg, president of the San Jose Unified school board and lead candidate

for outgoing Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager’s board seat, leaving her job at the Silicon Valley Organization over what she said was the group’s sexist response to a campaign mailer. The story also said that the National Women’s Political Caucus of Silicon Valley rescinded its membership over the issue.

Chris Roth, an active parent in the district who ran against Allen for a council seat, took to Twitter in early April pointing out the story hadn’t made clear that the head of the caucus, Angelica Ramos, is also Ellenberg’s campaign manager. She also happens to be Allen’s wife.

Less than two days later, Allen took to Twitter and Facebook with the following statement: “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Don’t mess with my wife. She will end you. And I will enjoy watching it happen. You are on notice. #yesthisisasubtweet #NemarStrategies.”

A subtweet refers to a particular person without actually naming them directly.

Roth, believing the tweet was directed at him, complained to district leaders on the afternoon of April 9, writing in an email, “I find it extremely inappropriate and troubling that the PIO

of my daughter’s school district would threaten anyone on a public platform, worse yet threaten me directly. Peter has already been known to display poor judgement when venting on social media. It is even more troubling that he continues to do so while employed as PIO of SJUSD.”

The district, sources say, agreed, telling Allen that he needed to go. It wasn’t the first time there had been questions about his conduct, these sources said, and in the current political climate, even veiled threats are taken seriously. A student who posted that tweet, multiple people said, would face investigation.

In an interview, Allen stood by the tweet and said the decision to leave was a “mutual” one made over the last several months. He’d wrapped a two-year district rebranding strategy, Allen said, and “was just looking for some new opportunities and new challenges.”

Allen accelerated his departure date, he said, because he didn’t think it was appropriate for a school board candidate to be working in the building.

He denied that the tweet was directed at Roth, saying, “I don’t feel like I directed that at anyone other than folks who ever doubted my wife.”

Roth isn’t buying it. “It is unacceptable not only for the public information officer of a school district to cyber bully anyone publicly,” Roth said.

Ramos didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Ellenberg declined to comment.

“I stand behind the intention,” Allen said, of the tweet. “Was it strong? Sure. I think everyone has their moments on social media. It can be a very passionate, highly fueled environment and sometimes things come across in ways they don’t intend them to… I’m not immune to it, so I think it’s something to be aware of, but I stand behind the intent of it for sure.”