The executive committee of the Alabama Democratic Party will meet Saturday morning in Montgomery to decide whether Steve White, a teacher dismissed for showing students obscene material, should have his name removed from the general election ballot.

The issue of White’s candidacy for state office was on the agenda of the scheduled meeting before an arbitrator’s ruling was released Monday upholding the decision of the Limestone County Board of Education to fire White, said Zac McCrary, spokesman for the party.

“We will discuss all issues relevant to the situation,” McCrary said. He said previously that it was likely White would be removed as a candidate for the District 4 seat on the State House of Representatives.

The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery. The executive committee consists of 270 members, two from each statehouse district, McCrary said.

White said Tuesday he is considering removing himself from the race. He has previously declined to do so, despite a request from the state party chairman.

In a statement released in April, party chairman Joe Turnham said: “Steve White several days ago resigned his position as a local party official and I have asked Steve to consider withdrawing his candidacy in light of the serious nature of the issues at hand... The safety and welfare of Limestone County’s children and their families is our number one concern right now, not politics.”

Despite the fact that Joe Battle, the arbitrator in White’s appeal, found politics played no role in White’s dismissal, White said Republicans were responsible for pressuring members of the Limestone County Board of Education to remove him.

Gov. Bob Riley, a Republican, made a public statement in April denouncing White for showing a Bush-bashing video containing vulgar words to his eighth grade science class. White was reprimanded for showing that video and it was not the reason for his dismissal. The board voted to fire White following an investigation into parent complaints that he on numerous occasions showed students video clips with animated sex acts, obscenities and partial nudity.

Six of seven board members voted to fire White — with Democrat Roger Whitt being the sole vote against White’s dismissal —and Battle noted that the majority of board members are Democrats. He wrote: “I find no political or personal reason for the board’s decision to cancel the contract of the teacher.”

White ran unsuccessfully for the District 5 seat in 1994 and 1998 and favored having the superintendent elected by a vote of the people. Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll is appointed by the school board.