Tennessee State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) on Thursday introduced a bill that would allow party affiliation to be designated during a school board election.
The legislation, if enacted, would alter the current election process, which allows individuals to campaign on a nonpartisan basis.
“Elections for school board members may be conducted on a partisan basis, and a person seeking a position on a board may campaign as the nominee or representative of a political party,” the bill reads.
The bill will be considered during an upcoming special legislative session, which begins on October 27. According to Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), the session “will cover a number of issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including overreaching health care mandates.”
If passed, the new law would go into effect in July of 2022.
Local school boards have been at the center of the debate of coronavirus mandates throughout the country, and Tennessee specifically.
Earlier this year, the Williamson County School Board held numerous contentious meetings over potential mask mandates for students and faculty members.
After the meetings, the officials decided to limit the number of speakers allowed to address the members and require proof of residence in order to speak.
“For several weeks, we have heard from Tennesseans that have significant concerns over the unconstitutional and burdensome mandates being imposed upon them,” said Speaker Sexton of the special session. “As an elected body, it is our responsibility to let the distinctive voices of our communities be heard on these issues. I look forward to working together with Lt. Gov. McNally, the House, and Senate to create solutions that preserve the individual choices, freedoms, and liberties of all Tennesseans.”
— — —
Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Scott Cepicky” by Scott Cepicky.
I am in favor of this legislation. Unfortunately too often those running as GOP conservatives reveal themselves to be liberals once elected. Just look at many of the current legislators and the governor if you have any doubts.
Public interest and input needs to be drawn to these positions, especially to elected school boards and the public needs as much information as can be provided. A good rule of thumb: One out of every three democrats is just as gullible and liberal as the other two.
Great idea! Perhaps it’s the right time in history for all elected officials to declare their party affiliation.
Even state or Federal Congress critters don’t put Party on campaign signs now.
[…] By Cooper Moran | The Tennessee Star […]
This is all well and good and I am for it, but just because they might say, “I’m a Conservative” doesn’t mean they will be. Just ask Gov Lee.
There is a downside in attaching political party to school board candidates. Wouldn’t that open funding streams to a candidate and make that candidate beholden to the sponsoring party? Wouldn’t that also usher in having the larger party using the local school board to promote their political agenda? CRT is an example, the California woke would love nothing more than to have dependent lemmings spread out in other states pushing that what California wants. Trust, I lived in California many years and you do not want California politics in Tennessee.