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Even the non-partisan races are partisan.

The fact that candidates don’t run as Republican or Democrat and that every registered voter can cast a ballot makes the races for Lee County School Board non-partisan. But a recent series of experiences told District 2 candidate James Middlebrooks that party politics still play a role.

Middlebrooks was invited to a candidate forum in late August, and then un-invited.

The event is the 2008 Candidates Showcase hosted by the Lee Republican Women’s Club. Middlebrooks received his invitation in June. He immediately responded that he’d be glad to attend and planned to go.

The problem is Middlebrooks is a registered Democrat. On June 20, he was un-invited.

“They said the bylaws of the Republican Party of Florida only allow them to give time to registered Republicans,” he said.

That leaves opponent Jeanne Dozier, the incumbent and a Republican, with no one to debate. Middlebrooks said he’s not been on the same dais with Dozier since the campaign began, though both are invited to an event in Lehigh Acres this weekend.

“Republicans and Democrats don’t cross the line hardly,” Middlebrooks said. “That’s really too bad.”

There are two School Board candidates invited — one incumbent and one challenger. They’re in different races, however. District 3 challenger Raymond Rodriguez is a Republican, and is therefore invited. Incumbent Jane Kuckel is a Democrat, however. She won’t be there.

“It’s our bylaws,” said club president Brenda Skupny. “I think they didn’t realize (Middlebrooks) was a Democrat.”

Lee County Republican Party Executive Committee vice-chairman Charles Dauray said the party is only looking for candidates that have the best Republican resumes.

“We support the candidates that best represent Republican principles,” he said. “We want serious people who are serious Republicans.”

Middlebrooks said he wasn’t asked if he was a Democrat or a Republican.

“So I got invited, but I also got released from that invitation,” he said. “The letter apologized, but it’s really too bad.”