Columbia, S. C. - Governor Jim Hodges on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would make Charleston County School Board members run for office based their political affiliations.

"Our schools should not become a playground for partisan politics," Hodges said. "School board members should be focused on improving our children's schools - not on their next political move."

The Charleston County School Board voted 7-1 on Monday evening to ask the Governor to veto the bill that passed the General Assembly last week.

Senate bill 933 requires that members of the Charleston County School Board be chosen by partisan elections beginning this year. Anyone planning to seek election or re-election in 2002 would be required to announce a party affiliation in order to run in a party primary and the general election.