Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas NDP candidate Alex Johnstone is temporarily stepping down from her duties as vice-chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, although she’s keeping tight-lipped about it.

Johnstone didn’t divulge the decision during Monday’s regular board meeting and declined afterwards to speak to a Hamilton Community News reporter who tried to ask her about her controversial Auschwitz comments.

The trustee for wards 11 and 12 instead referred all questions to her campaign manager, Paul Mason, who joined the attempted interview as she stepped back in silence.

“We’re not making any comment here tonight. We’ve got somewhere else to go,” Mason said, noting Johnstone had issued a public apology via Facebook. “That’s our public statement at this time.”

Johnstone initially landed in hot water for a 2008 Facebook joke about the phallic shape of a fence post at Auschwitz, but created a far bigger furor when she told a Hamilton Spectator columnist she didn’t know until last week that Auschwitz was an infamous Nazi death camp.

The latter admission drew international ridicule – and led Johnstone to vow to work with B’nai Brith Canada to “to raise awareness about the ever increasing need to combat racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism” – but no one broached the issue during the board meeting.

However, board chair Todd White said afterwards Johnstone is taking a leave of her vice-chair duties for the balance of the Oct. 18 federal election campaign and won’t draw an honourarium during that time despite continuing in her role as trustee.

He said he didn’t raise the matter during the meeting because he only received notice of the leave that afternoon and it only takes effect Oct. 1.

“A lot of elected officials that are running for higher office take a leave of absence from their duties. This was a bit of an awkward election campaign from what I understand because it was so long,” White said.

“I think it was her intention that as Election Day drew closer to step away from some of her duties and I’m willing to accept those responsibilities in the interim.”