A while ago, spurred by the actions of some on our school board, I stood up at a meeting and proposed that board members and anyone running for election this fall should pledge to refrain from name-calling and insults.
It was my own idea; no one else knew I was planning to do it. I thought, in my silly, logical way, that things might go better if people took control of themselves and behaved with civility.
That night three board members, Jeremy Veal, Annette Porter, and Mike Hart, immediately signed. Two people who had announced they'd be running for the board, Taed Price and Lain Veihl, also agreed to remain civil. (I should mention that at that point, some of the current candidates had not yet attended a board meeting, namely Jim Gibson, Joe Bonnard, and Tom Moran, so they might not have heard the proposal.)
The next time the board met, I stood again at citizens' time and asked if the others would sign. Board member Lorrie Kowalski did. No one else spoke. In fact, Erin Chaskey, Jim Rieger, and John Palmer all found something so important on their phones or in their paperwork that they couldn't even look up at me.
At the next meeting, they were asked a third time.Three chances to do the right thing. No response. Here's the statement, so you can decide for yourself whether it's a fair proposal.
During the upcoming campaign
for school board, I will not engage in personal attacks or name-calling against
anyone at a meeting, in public places, on social media.
Signed______________
Date: _______________
Now it's election time, and I'm asking why.
*Why wouldn't you pledge to not engage in name-calling and personal insults?
*Why won't you set a good example for the children you claim to care so much about?
*Why can't you refrain from vicious comments and keyboard warrior tactics?
And most importantly: If you have so little self-control, why do you deserve a seat on our school board?
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