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After months of campaigning and nonstop media blitzing, we now face several more months of campaigning and nonstop media blitzing. The March primary elections set up a November showdown between Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Bill White, the former mayor of Houston, while incumbent Republican David Dewhurst will face Democrat challenger Linda Chavez Thompson for lieutenant governor.

Some down-ballot races could prove to be exceedingly important for education policy in Texas. The primaries have potentially effected a major shift in the philosophy of the State Board of Education. In recent years, an ultra-conservative bloc has muscled some controversial issues through, against the advice of education experts, on a 8-7 vote.

Former SBOE chair, Tincy Miller, who did not typically vote with the eight-member bloc, was defeated by educator George Clayton. Clayton’s stance on some of the controversial curriculum topics is not yet known; his top campaign issues were educator empowerment and reduction of highstakes testing. Conservative bloc member Ken Mercer withstood a serious challenge by well-funded moderate Tim Tuggey, but won that race handily. However, with the defeat of former SBOE Chair Don McLeroy by Thomas Ratliff (son of former TCTA Friend of Education Bill Ratliff, a Senate Education Committee chair and later lieutenant governor), a more moderate group is expected to prevail.

As is typical, the Texas Senate will not see major turnover for the upcoming legislative session – no incumbents were defeated, and in fact one incumbent won despite withdrawing from the race in January. Sen. Kip Averitt, another perennial TCTA Friend of Education, had withdrawn from theelection due to health reasons in January, past the date by which individuals had to declare candidacy. His withdrawal
originally left the only other candidate, Darren Yancy, as the heir apparent, but Yancy’s defeat in the primary put a kink in his path to ascension. Averitt subsequently resigned his seat effective March 17, setting the stage for a process by which the county chairs for the Republican and Democratic parties in the district will designate a candidate from each party to appear on the ballot in the November general election. In addition, a special election (not yet scheduled) will be held to fill the remainder of Averitt’s current term.

Only four House incumbents were bested, though at least one is requesting a recount. A handful of others were forced into runoff elections (to be held in April) and could yet lose their seats. While previous years’ elections have
proved eventful for educators, as the March primary often came down to a battle between education philosophies, few races this time hinged on school-related issues. However, some races may affect the outcome on key issues with typically close votes, such as vouchers. Among the seats that changed hands in a manner that could affect education was the East Texas district lost by voucher supporter Betty Brown to voucher opponent Lance Gooden. Delwin Jones of Lubbock, a longtime voucher opponent and friend to educators, is in a runoff with Charles Perry after a tight three-way race. Observers of this and another Lubbock-area Republican
primary have noted that strong showings by candidates backed by local “Tea Party” advocates were responsible for throwing frontrunners into a runoff.

Voters will face eight months of additional campaigning before the November election. National issues have, by most measures, shifted voter trends back toward the Republican party, and party leaders are targeting formerly Republican seats that were taken by Democrats in 2008. However, a strong showing by Democrat Bill White in polls immediately following the primary could make the governor’s race less than a sure thing. The Texas House, which operated relatively smoothly last session with a 76-74 Republican majority, could end up more divided along partisan lines if the balance shifts significantly in either direction, a change that could affect the Speaker’s office, committee appointments and the course of education policy.

TCTA’s election website will begin posting results of candidate surveys in the coming months, so check in for more information about the races in your area and what you can do to get involved.

DON’T EVER THINK YOU CAN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
One Texas House primary race was decided by only 10 votes. Just imagine the power you and the other teachers in your school or district can have if you use your collective votes to support education-friendly candidates!

Updated: 03/24/10