Nick Lee, Pres Freethinkers and Eric Lane, Pres AUSA
Ginny Stowitts-TrainaThe candidates in attendance were Michael Soto and Tony Cunningham for District 3, and Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Robert M. Bohmfalk and Daniel Boone, for District 5.
Each of the five registered candidates had the opportunity to introduce themselves and state their respective reason or reasons for seeking office. The candidates then answered pre-screened questions from members of the audience. Candidates provided answers within prescribed time limits. Mr. Nick Lee, President of the Freethinkers Association of Central Texas, served as timekeeper.
Though to the casual observer the turnout was modest, given the low-key broadcast of the event and the little emphasis place on such a critical agency even a modest public presence was both unexpected and impressive.
District 3 candidate Michael Soto, PhD is an Associate Professor at Trinity University. Doctor Soto hopes to represent citizens living in District 3 that runs from the southern half of Bexar County to Hidalgo.
Michael wants to prepare Texas students for 21st Century opportunities by listening to parents, teachers and community leaders when creating educational standards and by restoring public trust.
Tony Cunningham the other District 3 candidate was less clear in voicing his platform. Though Mr. Cunningham never provided a direct response to any of the questions posed, when he seemed focused he read from a script that followed the agenda of the pro Intelligent Design, creationist group presently in control of the SBOE.
District 5 candidate Rebecca Bell-Metereau, PhD is a professor at Texas State University. Doctor Bell-Metereau seeks to represent the 5th District that covers the northern half of Bexar County and counties north.
Rebecca simply says, “Let’s cut out the nonsense on our State Board of Education and get back to preparing our children for their futures.” She has a vast amount of experience in education and public service. Her presence on the Board would be a strong one and of great benefit to the state’s education system and the children it is supposed to serve.
Dr. Daniel Boone, Lt Col USAF (ret), District 5 candidate is a psychologist and education activist. Like Soto and Bell-Metereau, Doctor Boone believes the State Board of Education should put less emphasis on promoting religion and politics and focus on what should be the SBOE’s core competency, educating the children of this state.
Robert Bohmfalk, a long-time mental health caseworker from San Marcos is the third candidate for the District 5 membership on the SBOE. Robert wants to bring a different point of view and respect back to the position.
Membership on the SBOE is an unpaid position. Yet the SBOE is one of the most important in the state. Board Members administer a $22B education fund, set academic standards and select textbooks used by students.
Most parents give little thought to the fact that text books their children read were selected by someone. Those same parents are even less likely to give thought to the political, cultural and religious agendas foisted on their children by way of texts purchased with tax dollars
The SBOE has become the battle ground for the culture wars between Christian conservative activists and secular proponents. At the center of the issue is the insistence by conservatives that the United States is a “Christian nation.” By “Christian nation” the right is referring to the “country’s roots and the intent of the founders.”
The answer to the issue of whether our republic is a “Christian nation” or not per force will shape “opinions on gay marriage, abortion and government spending.” Moreover, it could provide judicial basis for resolving “social questions.”
All candidates spoke as one voice to the importance of a quality education for the children of this state.
For District 3 Doctor Michael Soto emerged the clear choice to represent the Democratic Party in the general election.
While all three of District 5’s candidates Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Dr. Daniel Boone and Robert Bohmfalk would be a great improvement over the present SBOE composition, Bell-Metereau has the experience, training and presence required to push back against the system presently in place.
* Americans United, AU, is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans
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