After arrest, Zablocki will reportedly end his race for school board
Update: The anonymous post on Rise Up Midland’s Facebook page has been updated to say that Mr. Zablocki has reversed course, and will now continue his run for a seat on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education.
MIDLAND, Mich. — Will Zablocki will reportedly step down from leadership at ‘Rise Up Midland’ and end his run for a seat on the school board, an anonymous post on Rise Up Midland’s Facebook page says. The news comes hours after the City Paper published that Mr. Zablocki was arrested on Easter Sunday under the charge of Disorderly Conduct.
Mr. Zablocki told the City Paper that “accusations can be politically motivated” and reiterated that he is “innocent until proven guilty.”
He also said, “Any comment prior to conviction will be treated as defamation of character.”
After the City Paper published that he had been arrested, Mr. Zablocki called the article “defamatory.”
“It’s clear your political intent is to destroy my public image and nothing more. I care less about my status as a public figure than I do about being able to live. And your article is cruel to both me and my children,” he said. “You disgust me. I hope you can dig deep and find the courage to remove this article.”
About an hour later, the anonymous post describing the end of Mr. Zablocki’s campaign appeared.
Rise Up Midland started as a Facebook group formerly called “PARENTS AGAINST MPS MASK MANDATE,” and claims to be “not…political,” however its members have started in some instances to migrate from posts on masking policies to other conservative bogeymen such as vaccines, voter fraud and sex education.
No public details of Sunday’s arrest have been disclosed. The incident is the latest in a string of alleged criminal behavior from Mr. Zablocki, who has an extensive criminal background, something he has previously called “a great strength.”
In 2006, Mr. Zablocki was sentenced to four months in jail for forgery and breaking and entering with the intent to steal. In 2008, Mr. Zablocki was sentenced to 93 days in jail, held in abeyance, for third-degree retail fraud and placed on probation for nine months.
“I would actually categorize this unfortunate background as a great strength,” Mr. Zablocki previously told the City Paper. “I’ve overcome challenges that most people can’t overcome. And I promise to bring that courage to the school board as well.”
Mr. Zablocki publicly defended his criminal record by saying he was reformed and accused his critics of not believing in second chances.
Three seats on the Midland Public Schools Board of Education will be up for grabs in November. Three current board members have terms which end on Dec. 31: Vice President Phillip Rausch, Treasurer Jon Lauderbach, and Trustee Patrick Frazee.
Mr. Frazee has not yet indicated if he will seek another term on the board. He was appointed to the board in July. Messrs. Lauderbach and Rausch will seek reelection.
Mr. Lauderbach and school board president Scott McFarland are donors to the City Paper. Please read our Editorial Independence policy to see how our sponsors and donors never influence our journalism.
‘Mask Up M.P.S.’ leader Jennifer Ringgold and High Definition Detailing owner Jimmy Sheets have also publicly declared their intent to run for a seat on the board.
Michael Piwowarski contributed reporting.
Michael Westendorf is the chairman and executive editor of Chemical City Paper. As Executive Editor, he leads the City Paper’s news coverage and editorial team.