As local elections are coming up Tuesday, political battles are getting hotter. In the case of the Mount Pleasant School Board race for three of the five spots, the race is getting out of hand. Recently, two candidates for the school board walked out during a candidate forum.
As far as many people are concerned, it's upsetting that two popular candidates did not stick around for more than one question about the issues at hand.
We should all know by now that being in any position of power and responsibility is about more than one or two issues.
That is the problem with Mike Blanch and Larry Godwin. They simply do not look past two hot-button issues: the proposed new school building and the recent dismissal of two librarians.
Before anybody thinks that I am not qualified to speak on this subject, I am a resident of Mount Pleasant Township as well as a taxpayer in that district and a public librarian. I am also a graduate of Yorktown High School.
If my memory serves me, Yorktown does deserve a new building. All four school buildings are in need of renovation and always seem to have some sort of problem. Also, a new building would address the school's issues with space limitation.
As for the librarian issue, my heart goes out to the two librarians - I know one pretty well and know the other by name. However, that issue should not be a matter of politics.
As far as many of the residents of the township are concerned, during the last few years, the school board in our township has become too polarized and politicized.
Politicians should not run the school board. Politicians run for state office, national office or something more "political" than the school board.
The school board should be a group of individuals who show the understanding and listening ability to effectively run the public side of the schools.
Blanch's motives have turned ugly. Prior to walking out of the meeting - along with fellow candidate Godwin and other supporters - he had been banned from school property unless he had supervision and prior approval from the superintendent. The ban was issued for Blanch because of reports that he was intimidating staff members at Yorktown Elementary School and at the administration building nearby.
However, you could hardly tell that, considering all the political signs endorsing Branch and Godwin people had brought to the forum.
I, for one, usually like to vote for the least popular person in the township. In school board elections, personal affiliations sway votes. The person with the most personal affiliations - like Blanch and Godwin have - usually misuses his authority.
At the local level, our children's futures should not be handled by politicians looking to win re-election.
And school board representatives should not act as if they are on a path of revenge - as it seems these candidates, especially Branch, are on.
Many people in every township and district around the nation are concerned with what happens in their schools. However, it should not be the decision of politicians.
While I have not personally contacted any members of the school board or the candidates for the Tuesday election, I do not like what I see and hear from the reactions of these "representatives." As a resident of Yorktown and a graduate of the high school, I can honestly say that I cannot support any of the members of the board or the candidates who are running. They all seem to have a personal agenda or - in the case of Branch and Godwin - a vendetta.
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