California School Board Race Draws Backlash Over ‘Sexist’ AI Ad Showing Female Candidate at Bake Sale

A California school board candidate is under fire over a reportedly distasteful campaign flyer that shows his female opponent behind a table of baked goods while presenting him as a district superintendent.

David Ray Miyashiro, superintendent of the Cajon Valley Union School District, is running against Amy Flicker, a former Encinitas planning and environmental commissioner, for the San Dieguito Union High School District’s Trustee Area 1 seat, FOX 5 San Diego reported Monday, October 12.

The San Dieguito Faculty Association has now accused Miyashiro’s campaign of using AI “to generate deceptive, sexist imagery to attack candidate Amy Flicker.”

The union, which represents more than 600 district educators and staff members, has endorsed Flicker.

According to the flyer obtained by Daily Mail, it sets the two candidates side by side. Flicker is shown behind a table of baked goods labeled “Non-profit volunteer.”

Miyashiro is seated at a microphone, with “District superintendent” printed beneath him. The text asks voters, “Who is more qualified to be a school board trustee in San Dieguito?”

A line of small print at the bottom reads, “Ad generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence.”

Flicker criticized the flyer in the union’s news release.

“Using AI technology to manipulate the likeness of a female candidate and diminish my public service into a condescending stereotype is both ethically dubious and deeply concerning for someone seeking a position in educational leadership,” she said, according to Fox5.

“Our school district should be modeling digital citizenship, integrity, and media literacy for our students—not using generative AI tools to mislead voters and target female leaders.”

The law states that California requires disclosures for certain political ads that use AI-generated or substantially altered material.

Miyashiro’s office has not publicly commented on the flyer.