Commentary: ACLU will fight for school board member

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3500

By Chuck Samuelson
13 February 2008

MOUNDS VIEW - Last Nov. 6, voters in the Mounds View School District went to the polls and elected four school board members.
They had a choice of five people for the job. Thousands of ballots were cast, and of the four elected only one was not an incumbent: Susan Murphy. She received 2,900 votes that day, the second-highest number of votes received by any candidate in the race.

Shortly after her election, Murphy was contacted by the school board chair, a local attorney, who pressured her not to take the oath of office. He said Murphy had an illegal conflict of interest because her husband is a custodian in the district, and the school board would be discussing and eventually voting on the collective bargaining agreement with his bargaining unit.

Ms. Murphy also was contacted by the school district's attorney, who informed her that there was a potential conflict of interest "in the event you choose to take and file the oath of office for membership on the school board…"

On Jan. 8, Murphy did, in fact, take and file the oath of office. When the school board meeting convened, members were addressed by their attorney. He told them that if Murphy did, in fact, have a conflict of interest, the only remedy would be for Murphy to resign or be forcibly removed from the board.

The school board then passed a resolution to retain a retired judge as an independent hearing officer to investigate and make factual findings about whether Murphy has an illegal conflict of interest in the collective bargaining agreement for her husband's bargaining unit. The resolution also states that the only appropriate remedy for a conflict is for Murphy to resign or be forcibly removed from the board.

Susan contacted the ACLU of Minnesota.

FULL story at link.

[davidinalameda]

1. talk about your strong arm tactics

all she would have to do is abstain from any discussion on the contract and the vote

that shouldn't exclude her from serving on the board

[HuffleClaw]

2. got voted off the island eh?

gotta love small town politics!