Daris Howard, Election Time

It’s almost primary election time. In our rural community, one of the most important local offices is the school board. It can be a thankless job. Anyone who has a child in school has definite opinions on how the school should be run and the most important uses of the money. And those with no children in school feel that bonds and levies are a waste of money, and the school board needs to cut spending and be more efficient.

In a previous election year, no one was running for the school board position in the district where I live. Everyone was encouraging someone else to do it. I even had people talk to me about it.

“You really ought to run,” Old Evan said. “You’re one of the most-looked-up-to people in the community. Everyone would vote for you.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t plan to run,” I replied.

“Why? Because you’re one of the most-looked-up-to people in the community, and it might lower people’s opinion of you?”

“No,” I replied. “Because everyone might vote for me.

Eventually, my neighbor, Bart, decided to run. Bart is wellknown, and everyone respects him. He does have strong opinions on issues, but he always tries to do what he feels is right.

He won unopposed, and that year, there were some significant challenges for the school board. The state cut back funding, and the school board had to decide where to cut expenses. The biggest possible budget that could be decreased was the sports programs. But parents of athletes are often the most outspoken, so that didn’t go over well.

The programs for the arts was the second consideration. That includes music, art, and theatre. But more than 50% of the students are in those programs. The parents whose children were involved in the arts pointed out that the amount of money spent there was already the lowest when calculated on a per-child basis.

The school board proposed having a supplemental levy, but farm commodity prices were down, and since the levy would be a property tax, farmers came to the school board meeting in droves to complain. Those who had large summer cabins complained as well. Their children didn’t go to school here, and they didn’t feel they should pay increased taxes.

The school board worked hard to balance all the issues, but no one was happy. By the time the next election year rolled around, Bart had had enough. He told me he didn’t plan to ever run again.

But no one else was running, and an incumbent would look like a quitter if he didn’t run when he was unopposed. So Bart finally, reluctantly registered to run. And then, just before the filing deadline, Melanie registered, too, but she had less than a month to get the word out.

As I was driving home on the week of the election, I saw Bart out putting up signs along the roads. I laughed, thinking that his competitive spirit must have gotten the best of him. I waved and continued on my way. A few minutes later, he came around the neighborhood passing out campaign flyers.

“Don’t forget to vote,” he said.

I smiled as he left. Then I looked at the flier. It was a campaign ad for Melanie. Curiosity got the best of me, and I climbed into my car and drove to look at one of the signs Bart had been putting in along the road. Sure enough, it was for Melanie. At a community gathering the day after the election, Bart was all smiles.

“Well, it was close, but we did it,” he said.

“You won?” Evan asked.

Bart shook his head. “No. Melanie did by forty-two votes. Thank heaven.”

I laughed. I had never seen someone so happy about losing.