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Primary results and a look ahead

March 2006 proved a crucial turning point for educators as a political power. The involvement of the public education community in that election cycle produced several surprises during the primary election, demonstrating to political observers, candidates and policymakers across the state that public school supporters were a force to be reckoned with. Teachers were unhappy with the recent education-focused legislative sessions and concerned about the possibilities for the special session scheduled for later that spring, and teacher associations and affiliated political groups became more openly involved in the elections than they had in years past.

In the 2006 election cycle, the education community was credited with ousting longtime incumbent and House Public Education Committee Chairman Kent Grusendorf. Several other incumbents not considered to be education-friendly were replaced by newcomers who had courted educators, and a handful of incumbents targeted by private school voucher supporters won (with some exceptions) hard-fought challenges, again to the credit of public school advocates. Voucher proponent Dr. James Leininger spent millions of dollars that year, but won only two of the contests in which he had heavily invested.

2008 primary results
Several contested primaries in March 2008 held the same promise for showcasing educator influence, but the results were mixed. Attention turned to the presidential contest, and few local races appeared to hold the interest of educators to the same extent as those 2006 contests. Education-centered elections included the following:

Challenger Wade Gent attempted to oust Rep. Betty Brown (R-Athens) by emphasizing his opposition to private school vouchers in a heated East Texas primary, but he was unable to pull out the victory, losing by a 52-48% margin.

Rep. Pat Haggerty (El Paso), a Republican legislator who opposes vouchers and frequently votes with teachers without regard to the “party line,” was soundly defeated by Dee Margo, a businessman who tried to unseat El Paso Sen. Eliot Shapleigh in several previous elections before turning his attention to the House. This seat is one of several currently Republican House districts being targeted as winnable by Democrats in November.

Joe Tison’s support from the education community (the candidate was a long-time superintendent of Weatherford ISD) was not enough to overcome the large amounts of money poured into the race by the business community seeking to keep Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) in office.

Doug Miller of New Braunfels pulled out a squeaker of a win over Rep. Nathan Macias (R-Bulverde), with so small a margin that a recount was granted. The margin of victory was even smaller than the 46 votes by which Macias, a homeschooler recently appointed to the House Public Education Committee, defeated former teacher Carter Casteel in March 2006.

The Craddick factor
Support for and opposition to current House Speaker Tom Craddick became a theme in many of the primary campaigns, and while several House seats changed hands, most political analysts maintain that the end result was a wash for the speaker. The speaker was involved in successful challenges to incumbents Juan Escobar (D-Kingsville) and Borris Miles (D-Houston), who will be replaced by Craddick supporters, but two Democratic Craddick committee chairs (Rep. Kevin Bailey of Houston and Rep. Robert Puente of San Antonio) were defeated.

One challenger, Jonathan Sibley, openly threw out the Craddick card, issuing a news release just prior to the election to renounce his support of Speaker Craddick. The release by Sibley, an opponent of private school vouchers, cited education issues in particular as the catalyst for his action. Sibley, however, was soundly defeated by incumbent Charles “Doc” Anderson (R-Waco).

In all, eight incumbent legislators were defeated (potentially nine, depending on the outcome of April runoff elections). In combination with the nine House members who chose not to run for re-election, the House will see a turnover of at least 17 seats, possibly more depending on November election results. Significant changes in the composition of the House, particularly if the Republican/Democrat numbers are narrowed or reversed, could spell changes in House leadership in 2009, which of course can have a very direct influence on education policy in the Texas Legislature.

More opportunities in November
Republicans and Democrats alike will be watching several general election races that could change the partisan composition of the House, and, to a lesser extent, the Senate.

For several election cycles, observers have kept a close eye on a handful of East Texas House seats in conservative districts held by Democrats. The incumbent Democrats have managed to hold onto those seats despite heavy challenges by well-financed Republican opponents. Those legislators, who include Reps. Jim McReynolds (Lufkin), Chuck Hopson (Jacksonville), Mark Homer (Paris) and Stephen Frost (Atlanta), will once again be opposed this November.

Two of the more unusual races to watch involve legislative seats that have already changed hands since the last election, though in different manners. Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie surprised political pundits last September by changing parties, becoming the first Republican to switch to the Democratic party in decades. Democrat Dan Barrett took over the seat held by House Public Education Committee member Anna Mowery (R-Fort Worth) who resigned her seat in August. Republicans will be working to return both of those seats to the R tally.

Another difficult and likely expensive race will be a rematch between Rep. Allen Vaught (D-Dallas) and the incumbent he deposed in 2006, Rep. Bill Keffer. A former member of the House Public Education Committee, Keffer introduced proposals that were particularly harmful to teachers (most notably a bill that would have significantly reduced teacher legal protections), making this a race to watch in the education community.

Upsets in the Texas Senate are rare, but at least one race has the potential to usher in not only a successful challenger but a change in the Senate’s partisan composition. Democrat Joe Jaworski of Galveston is mounting a serious challenge to Republican incumbent Mike Jackson of Pasadena, who is considered by many to be vulnerable.

It is most important for educators to be informed about the education policy positions held by the candidates hoping to represent them. TCTA’s affiliate website, TexasTeachersVote.org, is up and running and will be enhanced and updated throughout the coming months prior to the general election.

Web posted: 04/01/08 from The Classroom Teacher, Spring 2008