There have been a lot of whining and gnashing of teeth over a bill in the TN legislature that would restore the school board elections to a partisan election instead of non partisan.
Prior to 1992, all school board elections were partisan. When Diane Dozier was elected to the Knox County School Board in 1998 and was elected with less than a majority of total votes cast. The Knox County Commission requested and the TN legislature passed a permissive law for ONLY Knox County that required Knox County School Board candidates with less than 50% plus 1 vote, to face a run off. In 2004, Indya Kincannon was forced to run off against Patsy Vittatoe and just last year Doug Harris was required to face Gina Oster in a run off.
For many reasons the News paper Editor desires that school board elections remain non partisan, primarily because the voters interest in the school board elections are greatly diminished. When no one is required to run as a Republican or a Democrat this allows individuals (that are extremely out of touch with the core values of the citizenry) to sneak into an elected office that approves curriculum, policies, hire the Superintendent and spend two thirds of our Knox County tax money.
Let’s look at the current nine board members and based on their previous voting record (which is public information), their known alliances and general leanings on social and political issues.
Democrat Affiliations: Gloria Deathridge, District One; Indya Kincannon, District Two; Karen Carson, District Five and Chair and Pam Trainor, District Nine.
Republican Affiliations: Thomas Deakins, District Six, Kim Sepesi, District Seven and Mike McMillan, District Eight.
Unknown Affiliation: Lynne Fugate, District Four and Rookie Doug Harris, Third District.
“Unknown Affiliation: Lynne Fugate”
Correction. She’s affiliated with Central Office and McIntyre, not her constituents.