School district officials had removed Salmon from the eligible substitute list while investigating a paid political advertisement that ran in The Times-Independent on Oct. 28. The ad included the names of dozens of Grand County High School students who had signed a petition pledging their support of Salmon. Questions had arisen regarding whether the students’ names should have appeared in the ad. The district then submitted a news release of its own for the Nov. 4 issue of The Times that essentially disavowed Salmon’s ad.
But after school board members spent several days interviewing those involved, the matter was apparently resolved to their satisfaction. Salmon’s name was placed back on the list of eligible substitutes and no further action was taken.
Salmon, a Castle Valley resident, lost to Audrey Graham in the election for Grand County Council District 4, 562 votes to 459.
During its regular monthly meeting last Wednesday evening, the school board acknowledged receiving numerous letters and calls in support of Salmon. Two GCHS students also spoke during the meeting. After thanking them, school board president Rick York informed those present that the board had already placed Salmon’s name back on the substitute list. “Jim is available as a substitute at the high school,” York told those present.
One of the students who spoke, Cooper Henderson, told the board that it was his own idea to circulate the petition among his fellow students back in May. “We wanted to help him out,” said Henderson. “At no time did Mr. Salmon approach anyone to sign it.”
Fellow GCHS student Preston Bishoff also spoke in favor of Salmon. “We signed that piece of paper because we believed in Jim Salmon as a good man,” said Bishoff. “He is there for the students. Maybe he made a mistake (in running the ad), but we shouldn’t let one mistake outweigh all the good he has done.”
Salmon has since resumed his substitute teaching duties at the high school.