Washinton State Superintendant of Public Instruction

This is a nonpartisan office, and once again we have more candidates than winning slots.

We have six candidates this time:

• John Blair: Pushing Individual Student Trust Accounts. Essentially a voucher program, but with some severe restrictions… so you couldn’t use it for most existing private schools. This seems awkward.
• Don Hansler: No website. I am tempted to just not even waste my time at all on candidates without websites. He does say he’ll send you more information if you email him. That is broken. He wants a two tier high school diploma, and bonuses for good teachers, but based on ratings from parents and students, not objective measures.
• Randy Dorn: For better objective subject matter standards and changing the math curriculum to something concentrating on skill mastery instead of more fluffy stuff. Also for more accountability in the school program. So far I’m liking this guy.
• David Blomstrom: Um, his website is “seattle-mafia.org”. And… “Viva Chavez! No, I haven’t lost my mind – just my profession (teaching) and students.* Disgusted by voter apathy, I’m trying to tap into the energy generated by Venezuela’s president. Hugo Chavez has some good ideas, too – like holding corrupt corporations accountable and nationalizing strategic industries. In fact, public education’s biggest problem is corporate corruption, the de facto privatization of our schools. Yet the media have once again turned this race into a forum on the WASL – which I’ve fought for over a decade. So why do the media ignore and even lie about me? This race has also been dominated by corrupt teachers unions, another scourge I’ve been attacking for over a decade. This isn’t a tea party, folks. We’re at war with our own government, with Corporate America, and we’re getting our butts kicked, liberals, conservatives and independents alike. Well, I’m not afraid to fight. I’m even attacking Bill Gates, right in his home town. I don’t respect software terrorists who exploit children. How can we take back America if we can’t even rescue our local schools?” Yup. OK.
• Enid Duncan: Once again no website. Please. “Addressing learning differences (learning disabilities) are a priority for me. I will always be a champion for the rights of parents to be involved in every aspect of their child’s education. I believe very strongly in fiscal responsibility and have a reputation for maximizing taxpayer’s value.” Seems reasonable, but very lacking in detail, and I can’t get more because, no website.
• Teresa Bergeson: The incumbent. She has been there for 11 years. I’m not sure what she has done and how good of a job she may or may not have done, but a decade is more than enough.

Given the above, my vote goes to:

Randy Dorn