SBOE 5 incumbent Mercer draws challenge from fellow Republican Tuggey

By Mary Tuma Friday, 05 February 2010

AUSTIN — Republican Tim Tuggey is challenging incumbent Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio) for his spot on the Texas State Board of Education in the March 2 GOP primary election. Mercer has held the District 5 seat since 2006.

Tuggey, an Austin-based lawyer and former U.S. Army captain, has rallied support from business leaders, such as H-E-B CEO Charles Butt and businessman Red McCombs, taking a financial lead over his opponent with roughly $60,000 in January campaign contributions, against Mercer’s $8,000. Feb. 1 filings show Tuggey still ahead of Mercer in contributions by about $12,000.

Tuggey pushes for an “intense focus” on local control, stronger accountability and hopes to remove ideology from the state board.

“With every problem or issue presented, my first impulse is to seek a local solution, not some grand budget-busting program hatched in Austin or Washington. So it will be if I am elected to the State Board. Local school board members, parents, teachers and administrators know best the problems and the solutions for our kids.” (From www.timtuggey.com)

Mercer, a computer software project manager and a member of the Texas Legislature from 2003–04, serves as vice chair of the board's Committee on Instruction. He also served as vice chair of the board's Committee on School Initiatives.

Mercer, an evolutionary theory skeptic and part of the board’s conservative bloc, drew fire in March for proposing to change the teaching of evolutionary theory by adding a “strengths and weaknesses” amendment, which failed 7-7.

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 twelve 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.