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January 19, 2012

Letter: Extreme partisanship has no place at the local level

Dalton Daily Citizen





This letter is to commend the Murray County Board of Education members for their decision to request our local legislators to introduce legislation to allow the board to become nonpartisan. When I was a member of the board we discussed this, but never acted on it. I’m glad they have pursued it.

If there was no other rationale for this move, the vehement, vitriolic, partisan opposition is enough. Look at where this extreme partisanship (from all parties) has gotten our country. This kind of partisanship has no place at the local level.

During the last five to six years I have discussed this idea with many people. This included educators, current and retired, county officials and citizens. I also talked to members of both parties. The consensus among these people was in favor of the move to nonpartisan. A former BOE member stated that she didn’t know she had to choose a party until she went to qualify. She ran to help students, not a party agenda.

The opposition has made a big deal about parties “vetting” candidates. Seriously? The definition of “vetting” is to “evaluate and examine to determine qualification for an appointment.” Local parties do not “vet” candidates. I’m not sure state and national parties vet candidates, considering some of the candidates running lately. As long as they can pay the qualifying fee, just about anyone can run.

Another point made by the opposition is that if candidates are identified by party affiliation, it helps voters know about the candidates. If voters choose for whom they vote based solely on party affiliation then they are not voting intelligently. Also, people switch parties like they change their underwear, just hoping to get elected, not because they changed their views. Plus, nonpartisan groups conduct forums for candidates to present themselves.

Members of a BOE should be more concerned about serving the students and employees of the school system and the taxpayers of the community, not party bosses. They should promote an education agenda, not a party agenda.

Lastly, despite what one writer said, there haven’t been 20 candidates at one time for Murray County BOE in years. I’ve been involved in BOE elections for 25 years and I didn’t remember having that many candidates at one time. But then my memory is not perfect so I checked with the Murray County elections office and no one there could remember any 20 candidates either.  The special election for commissioner last year brought out more candidates than any election in recent times and it was nonpartisan.

The important thing is that citizens get out and vote.



Elizabeth Gould

Chatsworth

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