A School Board Battle in Everett
A state representative refuses to resign his seat on the local school board, sparking an outcry over transparency and political maneuvering.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
John T. Rogers, representative in the legislature from the district which includes the city of Everett, is about to leave the city to engage in business at Oak Harbor. This would leave him but a period of about thirty days after the school election of December 4 to serve the people as school director. His office will then become vacant because of change of residence to another county and district. Mr. Rogers was asked to resign from the school board because of his intended early removal from the district, so the people could elect a successor in his place. He refused. He says he will remain here until after the election to help Mr. Pendleton be re-elected. Do you think that makes a good public officer? Rather an officer who represents a clique machine which is run in opposition to the public's wishes.
“Do you think that makes a good public officer? Rather an officer who represents a clique machine which is run in opposition to the public's wishes.”
Everett has a long history of intense school board politics. This 1909 dispute over a 'clique' clinging to power reflects the recurring civic tension between community-led school governance and entrenched political interests that persists in local elections today.
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