From Deseret News archives:
Huntsman, lawmakers looking at changes in how state school board is elected
Currently, names of candidates for the 15-member board don't go directly to voters. First, a governor-appointed committee conducts interviews and reviews qualifications to narrow the list to three candidates for each seat. Then, the governor chooses two of the three recommended candidates for each seat to appear on the ballot in nonpartisan races.
Last week, the state school board approved a motion supporting direct, nonpartisan board elections.
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, and Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, say they're working on bills that would result in direct elections.
Menlove said she was disappointed to see her area's state board member not get the chance to go before voters.
"She's very popular in the area," Menlove said.
While some lawmakers say the current system isn't perfect, they note it's there for a reason. Before the mid-1990s, state board members were elected directly. But some lawmakers contend that led to the election of unqualified board members.
"We had crazies on the state board of education. That's not my word, that's the word of people in the education community," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper. "An open primary basically leaves it up to just anybody to file with no vetting of a political party, and no vetting of an employer group or education group."
Stephenson said he wouldn't oppose returning to direct elections, but he wants them to be partisan.
"If we don't have political parties, then we will have very little interest in filing for those slots, and we will go back to the quality of candidate we used to have before the current process," Stephenson said.
Matthew Burbank, chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Utah, said there would be pros and cons to making the state board race partisan. He said not many people pay attention to state school board races.
"In one sense, it's not a crazy idea because it would indeed give voters a bit more information," Burbank said. "On the other hand, making them into partisan offices might have other implications that might not necessarily be good."
Christine Kearl, education director for the governor, said Huntsman wants to see elections remain nonpartisan.
Moss also wants to keep the elections nonpartisan.
"I just don't think education policy should be dictated by a political, partisan philosophy," Moss said. "I just think you should look at what's best for kids."
