Several hopefuls competing for SBOE 5 Democratic nomination
Several hopefuls competing for SBOE 5 Democratic nomination
By Mary Tuma Friday, 05 February 2010
AUSTIN — Four Democrats are vying for the Texas State Board of Education District 5 seat, currently held by incumbent Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio). Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Robert Bohmfalk, Daniel Boone and Josiah James Ingalls each hopes to challenge Mercer in the general election.
San Marcos resident Bell-Metereau served on the Planning and Zoning, Solid Waste and Blue Ribbon Bond Commissions and as a representative of her neighborhood’s Homeowners Association. She advocates against idealogical extremism on the board and hopes to more effectively manage the Permanent School Fund.
Bohmfalk is a 64-year-old mental health caseworker from Seguin who spent 15 years as a United Methodist minister and testified at state board textbook hearings in the mid-’70s.
Boone, a descendant of the pioneer that shares his name, ran unsuccessfully for Texas House District 73 in 2008. The former U.S. Air Force officer has a degree in experimental and clinical psychology and has worked in the hospitality industry for the last 12 years.
Ingalls leads efforts dedicated to raising awareness of educational neglect and ran for mayor of Austin in 2009.
Bell-Meterau, a Texas State University English professor, leads her challengers in financing, raising more than $10,000 in January and $17,800 in the latter part of 2009. Boone trailed with about $4,000 in donations from supporters.
Democratic hopefuls face a seat held for the last two terms by a Republican.
The Texas State Board of Education is a 15-member elected body that represents single-member districts for four-year terms. The board establishes education policy for the Texas public school system, oversees investment to the Permanent School Fund (a $22 billion endowment supporting public schools) and makes critical decisions about curriculum and standardized testing of the state’s 4.7 million students in 1,229 school districts.
With key contentious issues ahead, such as minority and religious representation in social studies and history curriculum, and the perennial battle over science standards in Texas public schools, board members influence not only the state’s education system but that of other states, who often use Texas textbooks in their classrooms.
The district is home to approximately 1.4 million Texans in 12 counties: Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Llano, and parts of Bell, Bexar, and Travis counties.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population is estimated at 1,391,496 residents, about 7 percent of the state’s total population. The majority of residents are between the ages of 18–64, while 31.5 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The predominately urban- and family-centered population is 96 percent employed as of 2000, and nearly half earn $50,000 or more.
In 2006, 866,093 residents registered to vote in the general election, with a 399,973 voter turnout. Nearly 154,000 votes were cast for Gov. Rick Perry in 2006, while about 110,000 voted for Democratic candidate Chris Bell. Mercer received support from 234,798 people the same year and opponent Bill Oliver (L) garnered 95,405 votes.
