Education Election Is Under Political Radar

Write-In Candidate Takes On Sole Person on Ballot

If there's such a thing as a stealth election in Washington, then Tuesday's school board race is it.

Only one candidate's name will appear on the ballot for the D.C. State Board of Education, and there are no campaign posters to give even the slightest clue.

The special election will be held in wards 1 and 2 to replace Jeff Smith, who resigned in April as the board's District 1 representative.

Mary Lord, a political novice and freelance journalist who writes about education issues for national publications, is on the ballot. But, as quiet as it's being kept, she is being challenged by another political newcomer, first-year teacher Jason Crawford, who is waging a write-in campaign. The new school board member will complete Smith's four-year term, which expires in December 2008.

Two other hopefuls were denied a spot on the ballot after Lord challenged the number of signatures on their nominating petitions. Candidates needed the signatures of 200 registered voters who live in the two Northwest Washington wards.

Lord, 53, and Crawford, 25, said the seat on the nine-member board, formerly the D.C. Board of Education, is critical to the success of the mayor's school reform plans. The board was renamed and lost much of its authority to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) when he took control of the school system in June.

"If we are going to succeed as a city to raise academic standards, close achievement gaps and incorporate a diverse set of students into our American school system, we have to listen to what people tell us are their problems and what people tell us we need to move forward," Lord said. "That's where the Board of Education comes in."

She has a 13-year-old son who attends Alice Deal Junior High School and a 16-year-old daughter who attends a private school.

A self-described "soccer mom" who lives in Ward 2, Lord said she wants to build career and vocational education and focus on the arts, physical education and drama in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic.

"If all we drill into the kids all day are the three R's to pass a once-a-year standardized test . . . we're going to lose them," she said.

Crawford, who also lives in Ward 2, is a newlywed without children and teaches at the KIPP DC: KEY Academy in Southeast Washington.

He said he was appalled that the city was holding an election with only one candidate, so he decided last Monday to jump in as a write-in. He said he's going door to door and e-mailing voters to rally support. As a teacher who is seeking alternative certification, he is focused on certification issues.

"There are about 12 to 14 critical issues still under the board," Crawford said. "In some sense, having fewer issues to look at will give us the opportunity to do those issues really well. It's a great opportunity. You have a mayor, a chancellor, families, teachers and principals across the city that are really willing to make a change."

Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee said Thursday that she agrees the State Board serves an important role. "They have a large task in terms of finalizing standards and looking at teachers and certification issues," she said.

Even after Tuesday's election, there will still be one open seat on the board. Carolyn N. Graham, an appointee of former mayor Anthony A. Williams, resigned in June. Fenty has submitted the name of Cleve Mesidor, a community activist who ran unsuccessfully for the Ward 7 seat, for that post.

Those unable to get to the polls Tuesday can cast absentee ballots in person at Room 250 at 441 Fourth St. NW today and Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For more information about Tuesday's special election, call 202-727-2525 or go tohttp://www.dcboee.org.