Mankato school board race turns political

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - In a year of political tension and historic races, local school board elections are usually a spot of non-partisan relief.

But this year, several candidates have been recommended by organizations such as the Blue Earth County Republicans.

“I think running for school board and city council is best when it’s non-partisan,” said Kristi Schuck, who has been on the school board for fifteen years.

Local Republicans say that they are not endorsing anyone, just recommending - and that it comes in response to people askinig them who they should vote for.

“We’re just saying we like this person better than this person,” said Sadredin Moosavi.

There has also been some debate around the importance of bringing LGBTQ issues into the school curriculum.

“If we have LGBTQ students who need support we’re gonna find a way to support them,” said Schuck.

“Like much of the curriculum in the school system, the LGBT issues definitely have been politicized,” said Moosavi.

However, one of the candidates who received a recommendation from the local GOP says he’s not running for school board to bring politics into schools.

“Politics tears apart friendships,” said Tim Flynn, who owns Kato Karate. “If you want to keep friends, you want to keep your identity as a normal guy who cares about what they’re doing, keep politics out of it.”

Instead, as a father of five daughters and a teacher of students throughout the community, he’s concerned about bullying.

“A lot of students here, I hear stories, about how parents aren’t feeling like they’re being listened to,” said Flynn. “They tell the teacher, there’s no follow-up...there’s no plan for what happens when you report bullying.”

While political tensions are high, Flynn doesn’t intend to bring it into the school board if he’s elected - he just wants to make kids safe.

“As a school board member, you’re not there to bring your personal beliefs into the system,” said Flynn. “It doesn’t matter what I believe in, it matters what the community believes in. Because we work for them.”

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