An Austin American-Statesman editorial comes out, reluctantly, for Barbara Cargill’s confirmation to another term as chair of the Texas State Board of Education. The newspaper’s reasoning:
“(R)eality is that Cargill appears to have the votes. Were the nomination to be rejected, the question becomes whom the governor would nominate next. Two names that immediately surfaced were David Bradley, R-Beaumont, and Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio, perhaps the most conservative of the board’s ultra-conservatives.
Both Republicans have the seniority as well as the conservative credentials to be considered backups should senators ‘bust’ the Cargill nomination. Those two prospects were giving Cargill critics pause — as well they should.
Under intense questioning from state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin — the nomination committee’s sole Democrat — Cargill said this about the ongoing controversy about teaching the theory of evolution in Texas classrooms: ‘In biology class and in science class, I want to stick just to the science, like I did when I was teaching. The other (creationism) needs to be taught at church or in the home.’
Her Monday appearance and wariness about whom the governor would appoint should Cargill fail the Senate test undoubtedly cinched committee and full Senate approval.
It is up to the Senate, however, and Texans in general to make sure Cargill follows through on the commitments she made to transparency and conducting the state board’s business fairly.”
