By Nathan Bernier
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-889150.mp3
Dallas, TX – Jonathan
INTRO: The Texas State Board of Education has attracted national attention for its controversial decisions on everything from evolution to social studies. But as KUT's Nathan Bernier reports, Tuesday's primary elections have tipped the balance of power away from a faction of social conservatives.
As with many political labels, the categories used to define voting groups on the State Board of Education are sloppy. But there is a faction of social conservatives that wields a lot of power on the 15-member board.
Dan Quinn: "Over the last four years, they've had seven sure votes. And then they've had one Democrat who often voted with them from San Antonio."
Dan Quinn is with the Texas Freedom Network, a group whose mission is to counter the religious right in state politics.
Quinn: "It's not a sea change. A sea change would have been Ken Mercer going down as well." Ken Mercer is the socially conservative incumbent who won in a landslide vote Tuesday against a well funded moderate Republican.
Jonathan Saenz: "And here's a guy whose part of his district extends into Austin."
Jonathon Saenz is with the conservative-leaning Liberty Institute.
Saenz: "So I think if anyone is taking shots at conservatism, it's alive and well and I think it will continue to grow."
On the other hand, the poster boy of social conservatives on the State Board, Don McLeroy, lost his race to a moderate Republican. McLeroy believes the influence of his faction will be reduced to its level of four years ago.
McLeroy: "Three or four years ago the conservatives issues won votes every now and then but not as consistently as we have the past several years. It seems to me, we peaked in our power at the most crucial time, so I thought that was really good."
Meanwhile, a virtually unknown candidate who unseated longtime moderate Republican Geraldine "Tincy" Miller from the state board, doesn't look like he'll be a close ally of social conservatives. George Clayton says, among other things, he does not think the strengths and weaknesses of evolution should be taught in science class.
In Austin, I'm Nathan Bernier.