The 2024 Logansport Candidate Debate occurred on Oct. 22, 2024, at McHale Performing Arts Center. Twenty-one candidates were invited but only eleven responded and attended the event. Those in attendance were Tim Johnson, Becky Groff, Mike McCord, Matt Meagher, Zach Szmara, John Cole, Dean Davenport, Tracy Williamson, Tim Eaton, Rick Rouser and Carl Seese.
Seven of these candidates ran for one of five offices including Lewis Cass School Board, Cass County Council At Large, Cass County Commissioner and two State Representative positions in two different districts.
The sixth office the remaining four candidates are running for will impact students at Logansport High School in a more meaningful way. The Logansport Community School Board is made up of five members. They annually elect a president, vice-president and secretary. The school board assists the superintendent in making big decisions for the school corporation.
Groff, McCord, Meagher and Szmara are four of the five candidates running for two open seats on the Logansport Community School Board. Each of these school board candidates has a vision to improve Logansport community schools.
Groff is a retired educator who taught for thirty-seven years. Twenty of these years were spent at Logansport High School. She envisions a safe environment where students can thrive.
“I hope we have a corporation where students feel safe to come to school, that they feel included in the classroom, and that they find learning fun and education and they get what they can out of the classroom,” Groff said.
McCord is a LHS alumni who has served four terms (sixteen years) on the school board. He owns McCord’s Do It Best, a local family-run business. He believes in success throughout the schools and community.
“Our school’s mission statement is success nothing less and oftentimes I think people get confused about what that means. Success isn’t just graduating from high school, we want to get success in life,” McCord.
Meagher is finishing his first term on the school board this year. He hopes Logansport High School can produce successful members of the community.
“What we’re trying to do here is create successful citizens, people who can come out into the community and build a life that contributes to the community,” Meagher
Szmara is the spouse of an educator and has degrees in anthropology and intercultural studies. He hopes to expand on the high school’s current success and make sure students are seen and heard.
“I want to build on the successes and great programs we have… not settling, we have great things but we want to keep growing them. I want every student to leave this place feeling like they were seen, and heard, that they can truly be themselves, and that we met people where they were and helped take them to the next step that they want to take as they pursue life they desire,” Szmara said.
Each candidate had a compelling argument for why people should vote for them. Those who are elected can directly affect the school corporation based on the decisions they make. Students should care greatly about who is elected, especially those old enough to vote. This is why on November 5th, or earlier, students should make a difference and vote for board members who can have a positive impact on our community and schools.
