Non-Partisans in Sheep Duds

Thought is, education should be above politics. As a result, school board candidates throughout Florida are “non-partisan,” sorta, kinda like judges.

If you follow politics, judge candidates are held to a very strict standard of non-partisanship. They can reveal nothing, nada, during an election. At a political meeting of any kind, they have friends or spouses show up to hand out campaign literature. They would never show their faces.

Not so for school board candidates. If they wish, they can and do discuss their politics at will, depending on the crowd listening. After all, birds of a feather do flock.

This Thursday, March 26, April Griffin will host at her home a fundraiser for the Hillsborough County Young Democrats.

To help her with those hosting duties are county commissioner Kevin Beckner, non-partisan Tampa City council members John Dingfelder and Mary Mulhern, and fellow board member Susan Valdes.

Now, that is an august group. As the Great Carsoni would ask: What is 142? The answer: Beckner’s IQ of 139 plus the other three.

The point here is: Why do we maintain the charade of non-partisan school board elections. During the past election, Griffin endorsed and supported Beckner as well as Stephen Gorham, foe of fellow board member Carol Kurdell. Both Griffin and Valdes openly supported Hilary during her presidential campaign.

So Griffin and Valdes are Democrats. OK. Big Deal. No Problemo. So let’s make certain all of the voters know the political leaning of all school board candidates. Let’s forget this non-partisan nonsense.

But is the Sun Shining?

Every month, the school district’s communications office sends out a number of press releases titled Sunshine Notices. These notices inform the public when two board members may be attending an event together outside a board meeting.

For example, if Jack Lamb and Carol Kurdell attend the same Rotary Luncheon, the public will be notified. Last week, when Griffin and Valdes attended Florida PTA rally in Tallahassee together, we, the public, were officially notified by the district’s Office of Communications. You know, in accordance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Laws.

I am duty-bound to mention here that I have not seen a district Sunshine Notice Update for Griffin’s Young Democrat fundraiser that includes Valdes as co-hostess. Oh, the possible conspiracies that may exist! Will they speak poorly of Superintendent Elia, or their fellow board members who “rubber stamp” Elia’s proposals? Will Griffin and Valdes speak ill of Doretha Edgecomb or Jack Lamb, who are accused of “retiring” to the board. Ah, to be a fly on those walls.

posted by admin @ 5:37 PM