Texas Ed Spectator

80(R) HB 603 - Introduced version - Bill Text:

???????(b)??Members of the board are elected at biennial general elections held in compliance with the Election Code. A candidate’s name for the board may appear on the ballot only as an independent candidate and Chapter 142, Election Code, applies to a candidate for the board.
???????SECTION?2.??Section 1.005, Election Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (9) to read as follows: ?????????????(9)??”Independent candidate” means a candidate in a nonpartisan election or a candidate in a partisan election who is not the nominee of a political party. The term includes a candidate for the State Board of Education. ???????SECTION?3.??Section 142.001, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
???????Sec.?142.001.??APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter applies to:
?????????????(1)??an independent candidate for an office that is to be voted on at the general election for state and county officers except the offices of president and vice-president of the United States; and
?????????????(2)??any candidate for the State Board of Education.
???????SECTION?4.??Chapter 161, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0031 to read as follows: ???????Sec.?161.0031.??NOMINATION FOR STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROHIBITED. A political party may not make a nomination for the office of State Board of Education.

I thought this was an interesting bill. Would this mean that people wouldn’t get elected to the board just because they happen to be associated with one party? Maybe Maggie Charleton might have beaten Don McLeroy if both had to run as independents?

Texas State Board of Education Election Results

Endorsements like this drive me nuts:

The Eagle’s recommendations in district races | The Bryan-College Station Eagle:

We have been wary of McLeroy’s ideological beliefs in the past, but he seems able to move past those for the good of the state’s children. He does work hard, perhaps harder than anyone else on the board. Charleton was a wonderful teacher and leader who would no doubt be a fine member of the State Board of Education. She doesn’t, however, make the case that she would be better than McLeroy.The Eagle recommends Don McLeroy for re-election to the State Board of Education.

Give me at least one example about how McLeroy has moved past his ideological beliefs for the sake of the children. How does he work harder compared to the rest of the board members? What sort of case would Charleton have to make that she would be better than McLeroy? That she would work harder than him? Well, we don’t know what that is since the editors never bother to give an example. How about what would make a better board member in general?

Basically, they think she would be a fine board member and good leader but not better than McLeroy. So how is McLeroy a fine board member and a good leader?

Believe it or not, the same newspaper ran a fairly detailed comparison of the two candidates. Therefore, the lack of specific examples to support it’s recommendation leaves the reader wondering if maybe McLeroy brought brownies for the editorial board and Charelton didn’t.