"I'm the candidate who has a real shot at changing education for the better," said Adamic, who has spent about $1,000 on his campaign.

• In Granite School District, 20-year incumbent Lynn Davidson is campaigning "harder than ever" against challenger Carole Cannon, newly retired principal of Granite's Oakridge Elementary who edged him in the primary election by about 200 votes. Davidson says he has spent about $7,000 on signs and three separate mailers.

"I'm a strong, experienced leader and in this tough time . . . I think it takes a strong leader to get the best use of the dollar . . . make sure we are fiscally responsible and frugal in what we decide to do with our physical facilities, (and) make sure every dollar possible (goes to) classroom instruction," Davidson said, noting Granite's certified tax rate has dropped from Utah's highest to 18th in his tenure.

But challenger and former principal Cannon believes it's time for a change on the board. She wants to shrink class size and bring back recently cut arts programs to help students learn core subjects.

"I think we've got to get the Legislature to fund more money," said Cannon, who is getting her message out in a mailer and pitching lawn signs, which she says has cost her about $3,100. "We've got to cut some place to get class size down, because we're also losing good teachers because of class size and pressure put on them with testing."

• In Tooele, Board of Education candidates Julia Holt and Gary W. Steadman, separated by three votes in the primary, are battling for votes.

Both have bought newspaper ads, gone door-to-door and distributed campaign literature: in Holt's case, rulers stating she's "for the kids."

"I'm trained as a teacher, I have seven kids in the schools, I'm there all the time, and I know what's going on," said single-term incumbent Holt, who says she has spent about $1,000 on campaigning. "If you look at the district four years ago compared to today, there isn't an area where it hasn't improved."

But challenger Steadman, who won the primary, believes too much money is spent on administration and not enough on instruction.

"I have some concerns about the way we spend money," said Steadman, who has retired from an aerospace engineering job and a family recreation business. "I'm also concerned about student behavior and . . . safety of children getting to and from school."

Steadman estimates spending about $500 on campaign activities.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com