Because of redistricting, all 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be up for grabs in the November 2012 elections. The results of those elections will determine whether the religious right’s corrosive influence over public education will weaken or grow as the board considers what the next generation of public school students in Texas will learn about sex education, social studies, science and other subjects. We plan to publish on TFN Insider candidate announcements for a seat on the SBOE. We will publish announcements in no particular order, and their publication does not constitute any sort of endorsement by TFN. We will redact requests for contributions or mentions of fundraising events from the announcements, but we will provide links to the candidates’ websites (if available).
Rita Ashley, District 7, R-Beaumont
(Current District 7 Board Member: David Bradley, R-BeaumontBuna)
Rita Ashley announced on Monday that she will challenge incumbent David Bradley for the SBOE District 7 seat. Her website can be found here.
Local Businesswoman Rita Ashley announced today she has become a candidate for State Board of Education District 7 in the upcoming March Primary. Ashley, a former schoolteacher, was also most recently the Clerk for the House Public Education Committee during the 82nd Legislative Session.
“I have long believed that Republicans deserve a choice in District 7 and now the time is right for me to be able to offer my conservative values and education credentials for their consideration. The priorities I hold most important are sound fiscal management of school fund dollars and local control of our public schools. I think these priorities are held by the vast majority of residents in District 7,” Ashley stated. “We must have higher standards of ethics when it comes to managing the billions of dollars invested in the Texas Permanent School Fund.”
Rita Ashley has also served as District Director for Republican Senator Tommy Williams, the current Chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee and past Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.
“It is my hope that as a former teacher and co-owner of an Apple Computer dealership – coupled with my legislative experience, I can bring a new perspective to the Board.”
One of these new perspectives Ashley wants to provide is to seek a solution to the problem of student testing and grade structure in our public schools.
“My goal is to be a voice in Austin for each of the school districts in the 13 counties of District 7. This goal can only be reached if I stay in close touch with parents, teachers, and taxpayers,” Ashley stated. “I will do just that during my term of office if I am so honored to be elected.”
On the upside, I’m not spotting blatant creationist signs. Worst case would be a possible dog whistle in “greater local control”, but seems unlikely. Even a Slightly Silly Party challenge would seem an improvement over Bradley from my perspective; and she might even be Slightly Sensible Party.
How long has she lived in Texas? Google turns up mention of a pro-evolution candidate running for school board in Kansas circa 2005 with the same name. Probably just coincidence, however; “Ashley” relatively common surname (say, compared to “Jingleheimer-Schmidt”).