(La Porte, IN) - A local official is adamantly opposed to a measure being considered at the Indiana Statehouse that would require school board candidates to identify their political party.

 

Under a bill submitted in the State Senate, school board candidates would run for their party’s nomination during the May primary election. The nominees from each party would then face each other in the November general election. Right now, school board elections statewide are non-partisan.

 

On Tuesday morning's edition of the Morning Mayhem on 96.7 The Eagle, La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, who once served on the La Porte School Board, frowned on the proposed legislation.

 

“It’s a crap,” he said.

 

Dermody expounded on the issue, saying it’s wrong to politicize school board positions because the focus, “should be about the kids and how we make the best school system possible.”

 

Some supporters of the bill argued that revealing party affiliation would provide voters more insight on the ideologies of school board candidates.  Currently, the measure is under consideration in a senate committee.

 

Dermody once served 10 years as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.