After 12 years as a member of the State Board of Education, Bryan dentist Don McLeroy said losing the seat in Tuesday's election was disappointing.
The race was close, with Thomas Ratliff, a legislative consultant from Mount Pleasant, securing the position with a cushion of less than 1,000 votes over McLeroy. A total of 115,916 people voted in the District 9 race, with 58,388 votes -- just more than 50 percent -- cast for Ratliff and 57,528 -- slightly under 50 percent -- for McLeroy.
"The people who really knew who I was supported me, and the people here in the community came out super strong," McLeroy said. "I don't think people voted against me because I was so conservative."
Ratliff's success in securing votes in counties closer to his hometown helped him win, McLeroy said. The fact that his father, Bill Ratliff, is a former lieutenant governor didn't hurt either, he said.
"He has a good last name up there," he said. "I knew that from the get-go, but I still thought I could win."
Despite the letdown, McLeroy said he has nothing but respect for Ratliff and is confident he's capable of doing the job well.
"The race, to me, was not about his abilities," he said. "I didn't question those at all."
Ratliff commended McLeroy on the way he ran his campaign.
"My hat's off to Dr. McLeroy for serving 10 years and acting like a gentlemen during the race," he said. "I really do wish more campaigns could conduct themselves like he and I did. You don't have to go negative to win a race."
Being a board member for more than a decade is something McLeroy said he'll always be proud of.
"I couldn't have asked for a better tenure on the board," he said. "I think what we've accomplished will make a huge difference in education."
For more than a year, the state board has been working to revise the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards. Recently, the board approved new standards for English and science, and is expected to approve social studies changes before McLeroy leaves office in January.
Being able to be part of that process is what McLeroy said he considers one of his biggest accomplishments as a board member.
While early quibbles over how much prominence to give civil rights leaders such as Cesar Chavez and the inclusion of Christmas seem to have been smoothed over -- neither will be removed from the standards -- board members are crafting dozens of amendments to be raised for consideration before the first vote this month.
McLeroy, who believes the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that the Christian influences of the founding fathers are important to studying American history, lost his role as chairman last year following criticism of his outspoken views on creationism and support of teaching the weaknesses of evolutionary theory.
Tuesday's elections were the first since the board tackled evolution curriculum in 2008. During the heated debate that ultimately led lawmakers to oust McLeroy as chairman, the board decided Texas schools would no longer have to teach the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolution. Teachers still would be encouraged to consider "all sides" of scientific theories.
Ratliff said he will use the next 10 months as a time to learn more about how the board functions. As a new board member, he said, he will leave politics at the door and doesn't plan on being too bold.
"I plan to sit and be quiet and learn from the experienced board members," he said. "I'm going to come in with a calm demeanor and see what happens."
McLeroy said he'll continue to put his best effort in finishing out the job and is excited about what the future has in store for him.
"Today, I'm disappointed," he said. "But when God closes one door, he always opens another."
* The Associated Press contributed to this report.
RSS
Mobile
Daily Emails
Twitter
Facebook
