The May elections are past, but I’m sure that many people have already seen candidates and special interest groups out canvassing their neighborhoods for the August primary and the November general election.

However, let’s take a moment to reflect on Tuesday’s election and the longterm implications (politicians, pundits, and yes, even otherwise humble columnists, love to speculate on these things) of voters’ decisions.

Grand Blanc school board candidate Larry Polzin ran uncontested Tuesday, receiving 2,496 votes, more than 98 percent of the votes cast. Polzin should note that there were 39 write-in votes. There’s obviously room for improvement, Mr. Polzin.

The real concern, at least for this coverage area, is the Goodrich school board election.

Incumbent Ken Rappuhn will not be returning to the school board when his term expires at the end of June. Incumbent Tim Zirnhelt and challenger Linda Jackson won the two open seats and challenger Kristen Kenny finished third in the race.

While many of you may be thinking that the concern I speak of is that Rappuhn and Kenny didn’t win and Zirnhelt and Jackson did, that is not the case.

In a district embroiled in ongoing contract negotiations, cuts — and reinstatements — to programs, bickering, a proposed construction bond, the possibility of the superintendent leaving and numerous other issues, the real concern is that no one in Goodrich won in this election.

Rappuhn is easily the most outspoken supporter on the current board for resolving the contract negotiations with teachers, reinstating clubs and bringing some semblance of harmony back to the district.

He has advocated greater communication and community involvement and has a sound financial background, weighing sentimental issues against financial realities.

Zirnhelt supports these things as well, he’s just more soft-spoken.

Jackson and Kenny, both critical of the current board’s decisions and strong supporters of the teachers’ union, the GEA, are qualified representatives who care about the district and the community.

By the way, the GEA supported Zirnhelt and Jackson, which shows the GEA has power and influence in the district.

It’s a shame, really, because these are the four candidates the community — and especially the GEA — should have wanted on the board. That, of course, isn’t possible, but it is a nice dream.

I’ve spoken with the other members of the board and they’re good people who care about the students and the community. It’s just that the four candidates in this election probably had the greatest chance of bringing some harmony back to the acrimonious district.

Let’s hope Kenny and Rappuhn remain active in the district. Even if they’re not on the board, their voices need to be heard.

As I said, everyone in Goodrich loses this election.

But at least the district remains solvent.

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