City council rejects nominee to library board

By Josh Hypes Political Correspondent

The Hillsdale City Council rejected a nominee for the city library board during a contentious public hearing Monday night.

The council voted to reject Daniel LaRue, a member of the Hillsdale Community Schools Board of Education, by a vote of 3-4, leaving the fifth seat on the library board empty. The school board controls one seat on the library board.

The appointment garnered controversy after a selection of LaRue’s Facebook posts resurfaced, which criticized efforts by Councilman Joshua Paladino ’18 to restrict political and sexually explicit material in the children’s section of the Hillsdale Community Library. LaRue is the financial director at Perennial Park Senior Center and a resident of Ward 4.

Last May, Paladino urged the library board to remove any books pushing political activism or sexually explicit content from the children’s section of the library, but the library board refused to act on his proposal.

When Paladino ran against Penny Swan to represent Ward 4 on the city council this past fall, the library became a prominent issue.

Paladino said during an Oct. 24 forum at the college that he found the novels “50 Shades of Gray” by E.L. James and “Lolita” by Vladimir Nobokov in a banned books display for adults and children. He also found “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas in a section for ages 12 and up, marked as a banned book. He emphasized his interest in creating a “book curating system” and not a “book ban.”

“Anything that has a public name on it must meet the highest possible standards. This means we should have information that is academic and uplifting in the children’s section,” Paladino said during the council candidate forum and Paladino clashed at the podium in Hillsdale City Hall this week.

Elizabeth Schlueter said she opposed LaRue’s appointment due to his statements online.

“There are many families in this community with legitimate concerns about our children’s section

Christian churches, the college, exemplary businesses, multiple opportunities to educate children from pre-K to high school, and a belief in a higher calling because of faith-based principles.”

Supporters of LaRue, however, were quick to defend his character.

“right down to the accusations that I am divisive and political on Facebook.”

During the meeting Paladino added a last-minute item to the agenda to amend the city charter to strike the requirement that a member of the Hillsdale Community Schools Board of Education dangerous person for our city that you do not know — it’s hard to see how we’re going to be able to work together,” Paladino said.

Councilman Gary Wolfram said he opposed LaRue’s nomination because of differing opinions regarding library policy.

“A parent should want to ensure that they know what their children are reading,” Wolfram said. “I think that some books are better served by being in the adult section of the library than in the children’s section of the library. Given that we have to vote on these things, I would prefer an alternative.”

Councilman Bruce Sharp said he supported LaRue’s appointment and the school board should have a member on the library board. “I think on a board, diversity is a good thing, and if you don’t think so, look at me, folks,” Sharp said. “I’ve been elected five times, the fifth time I finally came out and told people I’m a Democrat. I believe the school board should have a member on the library board, it’s very important.” in October.

LaRue shared posts from Swan that called Paladino’s actions on the library board “dangerous.”

“Don't believe the statements this man makes, or for that matter any candidate. Do your own due diligence and verify what is being said,” Swan wrote on Facebook in October.

Other posts from local residents Lahryn Spencer and Carson Cooley said that Paladino wanted to shut down the library and pushed “a right-wing book banning agenda.”

Supporters of LaRue becoming politicized and containing books related to sex and gender,” Schlueter said. “It is the parents’ job to determine what to promote to their children and how to educate them. We feel that Mr. LaRue will not listen to those concerns based on that public advocacy.”

Resident Jean Heise said the council needs to fill the position with someone with faith-based values.

“People are clamoring to find a home in Hillsdale, just like we did 18 months ago, because of the community values here,” Heise said. “Hillsdale has numerous