UNITED UTAH PARTY URGES GOVERNOR TO VETO PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD BILL
Party chair says legislation to eliminate nonpartisan school board elections is a “huge mistake."
SB236, a bill which would make state school board elections partisan, is headed to Governor Herbert’s desk for his signature, and the United Utah Party hopes that it will get a veto instead.
“Injecting political parties into state school board elections is a huge mistake,” said Richard Davis, United Utah Party chair. “Who on earth thinks the school board will be better off with state school board members having to endure a partisan nomination process to serve on this board?"
The bill’s language is similar to a measure passed in 2016 that is currently facing a constitutional challenge. 3rd District Judge Andrew H. Stone found the 2016 legislation to be in violation of the Utah Constitution, but the Lieutenant Governor’s office has appealed the decision. Carol Lear, a State School Board member, has opposed SB236 on the grounds that the state shouldn’t be acting on new legislation while the appeal is still under consideration.
“Carol Lear is right,” Davis said. “This is already an issue under consideration by the courts. We need to let the courts decide the constitutionality of the 2016 legislation. The governor should veto this bill and wait to see how the Utah Supreme Court rules.”
For more information, visit unitedutah.org.
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