County races for school board causing a stir

Some incumbents are battling to regain ground lost in the primary election. And a Utah County state school board member who a nominating committee barred from the ballot has mounted an aggressive write-in campaign.

Still, some candidates say voters should pay more attention to school races. The boards handle more than half of people's property tax dollars — and about a third of the state budget — and call the shots for some 820 schools enrolling nearly 500,000 children.

"It's difficult to get people to pay attention to a state school board race," said State Board of Education candidate David Adamic of Cedar Hills, Utah County. "They should. . . . Most of their money is spent at the local school levels."

• State school board District 12 incumbent Mike Anderson, who won the 2000 election by a 2-1 margin, found himself cut from the ballot before he had a chance to run.

A nominating committee, a hurdle Utah law requires only for state school board hopefuls, decided not to forward Anderson's name to the governor, who chooses candidates for the ballot.

The nominating committee's actions were decried by Gov. Olene Walker and education groups, who long feared the new committee would favor business interests more than education. The committee for the first time this year balanced school and business sectors — sides that butted heads when some employers alleged high school graduates couldn't do math or write well.

Meanwhile, Anderson has mounted a $9,500 write-in campaign that includes door-to-door visits and an electronic freeway sign.

"I'm hoping to make a statement, and I hope it's heard. I feel strongly I have a good shot at this," said Anderson, who touts his issue stands and business background as strengths. "I do not support vouchers or (tuition tax) credits, because I do not support anything that takes away from education."

Opponent Mark Cluff, however, warms to tax credits for private school tuition.

"I think we need to look at them and do a test case," Cluff said. "I'm definitely for competition to see if it will help improve our schools."

Cluff, a software company co-founder, believes his financial background and desire to work with lawmakers on better pay for teachers make him the man for the job. He's spent about $7,300 campaigning, according to state financial disclosures.

Still, Adamic, John Hancock Charter School co-founder, says his insider's view makes him most capable of mending fences between the board and Legislature and innovatively improving education.

"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.

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