The four-member Portage Township Schools board could not name a fifth member at its Monday night meeting, sending the selection of a short-term member to a local judge.
After interviewing 10 applicants to the board seat left by two-term board member Deb Ekdahl, the board tied 2-2 on selecting either 40-year educator Wilma Vazquez or trades union leader Ron Necco for the spot.
School board attorney Kenneth Elwood said the tie puts Porter County Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper in the decision-making seat. Harper’s choice will hold the seat for two months before having to run for the seat in November.
“I’m fine with that,” Board President Andy Maletta said of the decision going to Harper. “(Harper’s) an excellent judge, and she’ll make a great decision. The electorate’s going to decide anyway, and we’ll let them make that decision as it should be anyhow.”
Ekdahl left the board to accept a newly created instructional coach position within the Portage schools.
Vazquez is an administrator and former teacher in the Hammond.
“I really, truly want to serve on this board,” Vazquez said after the meeting. “I always want to serve the community of Portage, and this is an excellent opportunity for me to serve the community because of my background in education.”
Necco, with the Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, and a member of the city’s Board of Works, said he already has filed for the school board race in November.
“The race is far from over,” said Necco, who attended the meeting with supporters wearing red, “Elect Ron Necco” stickers. “I look forward to keeping my head down to the grindstone, moving forward and doing what’s best for the school corporation and the citizens of Portage.”
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.