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Pastor and African-American studies teacher Robert McKnight told the Daily Planet Friday that a long-planned, two-week tour of churches in the South prevented him from meeting the city’s Aug. 14 deadline to file as a candidate for the Board of Education. 

McKnight said he had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot before leaving on his trip Aug. 7, but did not have time to complete required financial and candidate statements. 

“I’m greatly disappointed,” said McKnight. “I was just trying to do too many things at one time.” 

McKnight, pastor at The Rock of Truth Baptist Church in Oakland, completed the paperwork during his tour of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and planned to get it notarized and shipped to the city clerk’s office by the Aug. 14 deadline. But election rules require a candidate to appear in person and take an oath when submitting campaign papers. 

McKnight said he has no gripe with the city clerk’s office. 

“It’s a good system and it’s fair to all candidates, so I have no complaints,” he said. 

McKnight, who would have been required to give up his district job as a teacher had he won the election, will return to the Berkeley High School classroom when classes start next week.  

The Daily Planet reported on Aug. 16 that McKnight had failed to file his papers. The erstwhile candidate could not be reached during his church tour. 

Several community members expressed disappointment, at the time, that McKnight would not run, arguing that the race had lost an experienced Berkeley educator and a solid chance to diversify the board. The current board is composed of four white members and one Latino. 

But McKnight said he is confident that the one remaining African-American candidate in the seven-member race for three spots on the board, recent Berkeley High School graduate Sean Dugar, will bring a new perspective to the district administration. 

“I’m hoping, and I’m extremely optimistic, that maybe Sean Dugar’s candidacy will be strengthened and that he can bring that kind of diversity to the table,” McKnight said. 

Dugar welcomed McKnight’s support as a “needed” boost to his campaign, arguing that the teacher’s “great reputation in the community” will be helpful. 

But Dugar played down the opportunity to emerge as the sole black candidate in the race. 

“It’s a well-known fact that the African-American community is not one of the largest communities that show up to vote,” he said, adding that he hopes people throughout the community will embrace him for his youth and ideas, not his skin color. 

Dugar is pushing, among other things, for greater community involvement in board decisions, advisory committees composed of students and a more significant board presence in Sacramento. 

McKnight’s departure may also affect the candidacy of PTA Council President Derick Miller. McKnight and Miller were planning to run as a team. They had compiled dual endorsements before the filing deadline and had even printed 5,000 glossy campaign cards, featuring a picture of both candidates and a joint slogan: “Building a collaborative community for our schools.” 

McKnight said he will actively campaign for Miller and will ask allies to throw their support behind the PTA Council president. 

“I have full confidence in Derick Miller’s ability,” said McKnight, arguing that Miller will bring his concerns about the fiscal health of the district and greater community participation to the board. 

Miller said he is “deeply disappointed” that McKnight will not run, but added that he will continue to work with the African-American studies teacher. 

“As far as I’m concerned, Robert McKnight is still a part of my candidacy,” he said. 

McKnight said he hopes his church and community supporters will come together, in the long run, to advocate for change in Berkeley schools. 

As for his own political future, McKnight said he will probably not run for office again. He said he has likely lost the confidence of supporters who signed on to his campaign, only to learn that he would not run. 

“I can’t go back and ask them to support me a second time,” said McKnight. 

But, he added that he would consider another run if there was a groundswell of community support. 

In the end, McKnight said, he has learned a valuable lesson. 

“When you start something, you should always know in advance if you’ll be able to finish,” he said.