Just before last week's school board elections were held, letters were sent to voters in Delphi Community School Corporation's Liberty and Rock Creek townships.

One of the letters, sent to Liberty Township voters, regarded DCSC Board of Trustees candidate William Trueblood. The other letter, concerning candidate Chris Nipple, was sent to those in Rock Creek Township.

Both letters were signed by the "Ad Hoc Committee for Better Education" and stated they were written in support of the incumbent candidates from those townships. Each letter opened with this statement: "It has been a while since our group has been active in support of a school board candidate. But due to the misinformation being put out by (Mr. Bill Trueblood or Mr. Chris Nipple, depending on the letter), we feel we must step up and correct the issues."

Both letters stated general reasons to vote for the incumbents and how many wonderful things were accomplished with their approval. But then they took turns for the worse.

Trueblood's letter went into detail about his employment career with DCSC. Included was information that typically can only be found in a school staff member's personal file or executive session content.

The letter focused on Nipple went so far as to ask, "….do you want someone who gave up a job and went on disability?"

The Comet does not know from where or whom these letters originated, or how the information contained therein was attained. What is known is that state law mandates any Ad Hoc Committee must be registered with the clerk's office in the county in which it desires to operate.

According to clerk records, there is no such committee on file. According to Indiana code 3-9-1-3, "Each committee must file a statement of organization not later than noon ten (10) days after it becomes a committee."

Indiana Code 3-9-1-4 further states a committee must include in its original statement of organization the name and address of the committee, the purpose for which it was formed, its chairman's name and address, what type of committee it is, whether it is a political action committee and its stance, financial information and other information as prescribed under IC 3-6-4.1-14(a)(3).

The alleged committee sent out scathing attacks on school board candidates with the aim of convincing voters to side with incumbents. It did not carry legal status according to Indiana law. Neither candidate "supported" by the letters was re-elected.

If this Ad Hoc Committee for Better Education had anything honest to report, perhaps it could have started by being honest itself. The person or persons involved in this committee should step forward and reveal themselves. Further, they should offer a public apology for their actions.

This type of approach can only hurt a process intended to seek out the best candidate for a position. Leave mudslinging to the livestock.

Kevin Schnepp, staff writer