Right WingNut Believer in Fables, Fairy Tales, and Mythologies in Line for US Schools Job

Evolution Opponent is in Line for US Schools Post

Cornelia Dean - NYTimes


The candidate is Kenneth Willard, a Kansas Republican who voted with the conservative majority in 2005 when the school board changed the state's science standards to allow inclusion of intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. Voters later replaced that majority, but Willard, an insurance executive from Hutchinson, retained his seat.

The group, based in Washington, is a nonprofit organization of state school boards whose Web site says it "works to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking."

Brenda Welburn, its executive director, said Willard's only opponent in the race withdrew for personal reasons. Each state has one vote in the election.

Some scientists hope that when states submit their votes, they will write in someone else.

One possible candidate is Sam Schloemer, a retired businessman from Cincinnati who won a seat on the Ohio board last November with the help of scientists who organized to defeat creationist candidates.

Schloemer said he had no particular desire for the office, but added, "I would rather serve than see someone of his persuasion represent school boards across the country."

The association's bylaws make no provision for write-ins, Welburn said.

Willard, who is in his fourth year on the 16-member national board, said Friday that issues such as the teaching of evolution were best left to the states.

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