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Ohio State Board of Education Spotlight
10/9/06
To all:
There are 29 days until November 7th. There are many critical races in this election and it is likely that many of you are working diligently to make a difference. The purpose of this email is to highlight the election of State Board of Education candidates. Most of the email sent to this list over the years has attempted to help make folks aware of pending policies that could affect our families. A portion of this email will present opinions, but I will also provide information that will enable you to pursue facts about the candidates for yourself. The opinions expressed are mine, as a private citizen, and are not intended to reflect the positions of any 501-(c)3 or (c)4 organization with which I am affiliated.
Ohio has 19 SBE members – 11 elected and 8 appointed by the governor. Of the elected members, FIVE seats are up for election this time. Please look carefully at the counties covered by these districts and review the suggestions as to how you may get involved. If you do not live in these 5 districts, there are definite ways you can make a difference as well!
Please help spread the word regarding these races. Too many Ohioans are unaware that we even have a State Board of Education. Many don’t understand the impact these 19 individuals have on critical policies that affect our children and grandchildren!
It is the GRASSROOTS that will make a difference in most of these races. If you don’t live in the counties listed below, but are in a neighboring county, please consider volunteering your time (e.g. phone banks, passing out lit on election day at the polls, supporting the campaign financially, etc)
Ohio law permits a dollar for dollar tax credit for contributions made to a statewide candidate, up to an annual limit of $50 for single filers and $100 for joint filers. SBE candidates qualify for this type of donation. It is a tax credit, not a deduction, so you will get every penny back when you file your tax returns.
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DISTRICT 2
Counties: Erie, Huron, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa (part), Seneca (part), Wood
Summary: Martha Wise has been the elected representative for this district for close to three decades. She is leaving the board to pursue a seat in the Ohio Senate. Over the years she has been one of the most liberal members, so this open seat will give citizens in district 2 the opportunity to choose a more conservative candidate.
District 2 candidates:
- Kathleen McGervey is prolife and strongly supports opportunities for parents to direct the educational decisions for their children. She is a civil engineer by profession. I would encourage you to contact her, ask your own questions, and (hopefully) determine how you might assist her in her campaign.
- John Bender is a former state representative and has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Lorain County Family Planning Services. He is the favored candidate of the far left group Help for Ohio Public Education, whose primary focus is electing members that will aggressively defend Darwinian evolution in state education policy. http://ohiohope.homestead.com/news.html Dr. Bender views parental choices in education as a "challenge" to public education.
- Kenneth Ault (175 Church Street, Wayne, Ohio 43466) is currently a board member for the Wood County Educational Service Center.
- Rolland Hansen (6118 Rolland Dr., Toledo, Ohio 43612). There isn’t much information available on Rolland Hansen, but Judy Hansen (with the same residential address) is a board member of the Lucas County Educational Service Center.
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DISTRICT 3
Counties: Butler, Darke (part), Miami, Montgomery
Summary: This elected seat was vacated earlier this year with the passing away of State Board member John Griffin.
District 3 candidates:
- Thomas Gunlock is the incumbent. He was appointed by Gov. Taft on July 21 to fill the seat. With no August meeting of the board, this week will be his second meeting. Mr. Gunlock is required to run to keep his seat following his appointment. Mr. Gunlock appears to favor school choice, but his position on life issues is not clear.
- Susan Haverkos has been endorsed by former State Board of Education member and current Ohio House State Representative Diana Fessler. Mrs. Haverkos is prolife and a strong advocate for opportunities for parents to direct the educational decisions for their children. I would encourage you to contact her, ask your own questions, and (hopefully) determine how you might assist her in her campaign.
- Mike Anagnostou (6420 Stafford Court, W. Manchester, Ohio 45069).
- James Uphoff (150 Spirea Dr., Dayton, Ohio 45419).
- Roger Godsey (425 Dayton Towers Lane #9N, Dayton, Ohio 45410)
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DISTRICT 4
Counties: Hamilton and Warren
District 4 candidates:
- John Hritz is conservative, articulate on the issues, and strongly supports opportunities for parents to direct the educational decisions for their children. I would STRONGLY encourage you to contact him, ask your own questions, and (hopefully) determine how you might assist his campaign.
- Mr. Sam Schloemer is the current board member. Mr. Schloemer is the favored candidate of the far left group Help for Ohio Public Education, whose primary focus is electing members that will aggressively defend Darwinian evolution in state education policy. As the board grappled with policy concerning the teaching of evolution, Mr. Schloemer aggressively protected the Darwin-only approach. Mr. Schloemer has publicly and repeatedly stated his views that parental options in education represent a financial drain to public education. After having observed Mr. Schloemer during his tenure on the board I would strongly disagree with his generalization of himself as having a record of having "voting positions [that] have been based on mainstream thinking." He titles himself as a "consensus builder" on his website, which I don't think I have ever observed at board meetings.
- Dr. Deborah Owens Fink has served on the SBE for the past six years and is seeking re-election. She has been an EXCELLENT board member and it is critical that citizens support her re-election campaign. Please consider volunteering your time over the next 3 weeks to assist her.
- Tom C. Sawyer has publicly acknowledged that he was recruited by the scientific community to run against Dr. Owens Fink. He has name recognition in Summit County and beyond due to his tenure as Mayor of Akron and as a U.S. Congressman for 16 years. However, he lost support from a portion of his district over his vote to support NAFTA. He ran for Congress in the Democratic Primary this year and lost.
- John T. Jones (232 East Woodsdale Ave, Akron, Ohio 44301).
- David Kovacs (1800 Moonlight Dr., Akron, Ohio 44312).
- Jim Craig is the incumbent. He has been a reasonable board member during his tenure on the board. I would encourage you to contact him, ask your own questions, and determine how you might support his re-election campaign.
- Deborah Cain (12896 Sunset Circle, NW, Uniontown, Ohio 44685).
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DISTRICT 7
Counties: Ashtabula, Portage, Summit, Trumbull
Summary: **I would consider this race the most important in the history of the State Board of Education. It represents a concerted effort of the far left to unseat a reasoned, conservative member and to make a national example out of this race. A STRONG GRASSROOTS response is needed.
Why? In 2002 over 20,000 citizens gave feedback to the Ohio Department of Education on state science standards that included language allowing students the opportunity to “critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory.” Three-fourth of the respondents supported the policy. This had never occurred in the history of the SBE. In a Plain Dealer poll that year only 8% of the respondents supported an evolution-only approach to the macroevolution issue. The board policy REFLECTED what the vast majority of Ohioans wanted – academic freedom.
Over the next four years a minority of board members, along with the far left of the scientific community (Ohio Citizens for Science) worked to eliminate this policy. These same university professors have now formed a website to promote candidates who will continue to protect Darwin’s views.
Who is behind the effort to get rid of Deborah Owens Fink? Patricia Princehouse, Professor of Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University and President of Ohio Citizens for Science. On their website is this announcement: "Playboy Foundation Awards Patricia Princehouse Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award". Read a transcript of a May 11 speech in New York by Patricia Princehouse, as she accepted a Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award from the Playboy Foundation for her efforts to preserve [Darwinian] science education in Ohio public schools.
Lawrence Krauss, professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University and a member of the advisory board for DefCon, a far left group, based in Washington DC
These individuals and a list of others are working hard to politicize our State Board of Education and to censor discussion among students on controversial issues. They do not represent mainstream educational policies and they are aggressively advocating for the election of individuals whom they believe are aligned with their liberal views - Sam Schloemer, Tom Sawyer, and John Bender.
District 7 Candidates:
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DISTRICT 8
Counties: Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark, Tuscarawas
District 8 Candidates:
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Respectfully submitted,
Melanie Elsey
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