Franklin School Board: Kent, Lewis should get the opportunity

Franklin voters don't have much to decide on this Election Day. The biggest local race is for Franklin School Board, where incumbents Janet Evans and Aimee Schlueter are facing challengers Jeff Lewis and Jessica Kent. Lewis posted an op-ed on this site last week, and while Franklin Today hasn't given out any endorsements prior to today, both Kent and Lewis would be fine choices for the School Board.

Both incumbents didn't earn the nod primarily because of how they represented themselves. This frustration was expressed in a recent opinion column, focusing on their "achievements" as nothing more than being at the right place at the right time. Simply put, some of the best efforts by the school district happened IN SPITE OF, not because of, their Board membership.

Riding on the coattails of the rest of the School Board members to get the right talking points for voters is something Franklin Today won't support. The incumbents, instead of promoting things they didn't support as reasons to get re-elected, should have put out reasons why they voted NO to the high school referenda even being allowed to be put to the voters to decide. A little upfront honesty goes a long way.

If both incumbents do keep their seats, perhaps the School Board will at least demote Evans from her Presidency. Having Evans, the singular minority on many hot topic Board votes, as Board President makes zero sense. As stated previously, the Board President is supposed to represent the majority of the Board, not the complete opposite. That'd be like putting Nancy Pelosi in charge of the US House of Representatives, despite the strong majority of members being Republicans.

While endorsements have gone to the incumbents elsewhere, giving the challengers an opportunity to make a difference isn't a bad thing. Couple that with the vast business experience that both challengers have, and you got a good mix on the Board. Hopefully Kent and Lewis can make their mark tonight.