Seemingly Biased Political Organization Set to Moderate Elmbrook's Candidate Forum
While Superintendent Mark Hansen says that his job is more political, are his (or his administration's) actions a part of the problem?
“This job is increasingly a political one.”
Elmbrook Superintendent Mark Hansen on 9/23/24
Less than 5 months after that comment was made, the Elmbrook community was alerted to the fact that a seemingly partisan political group, the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County (LWVMC), is set to moderate the 2025 Candidate Forum for individuals running for seats on the Elmbrook School District’s Board of Education.
A demand letter was posted publicly to remove them and place a more neutral moderator in their place. The letter in full is below:
Questions Posed to Elmbrook Publicly
Previous Discussion by the Elmbrook Board of Education
LWVMC requested district facility use for the 2025 Candidate Forum, and this was discussed publicly in the 12/10/24 board meeting. This was a discussion item only; there was no vote by the board to approve the organization. Superintendent Mark Hansen said in discussion it would be back before the board for action in January, but that did not occur.
Notably, board member Mary Wacker claimed in discussion here and here that LWVMC is non-partisan.
Without a board vote, how exactly did the League of Women Voters be allowed to moderate the Elmbrook Candidate Forum?
Candidate Forum History
This is not the first time the Candidate Forum has raised eyebrows in the community, as communications previously released between (then-candidate) Preetha Kurudiyara, candidate David Irwin and Superintendent Mark Hansen in 2023 suggested that the Superintendent may have attempted to suppress candidate information.
These emails also reference buttoning up board policy, so community members wonder why is board policy under question again?
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