Rose Fernandez's concession speech

At the Country Springs Hotel tonight in Pewaukee:

Thank you….Thank you…

Well, while tonight did not end as we had planned, I hope all of you
join me in holding your head up high.

We brought important issues to the table during this race.

I have no doubt that Merit Pay, substantial MPS reform and the need
for higher academic standards were at the forefront because of our
campaign.

Good, positive developments can still come as a result of our efforts,
so I hope all of you here in this room and all throughout Wisconsin
who supported me know that their vote mattered.

In the end, although our message was resonating, we were not able to
get it out to enough people. In an era where there is less and less in
depth coverage of the issues, television advertising is king, and we
couldn’t afford TV.

We could not compete with our opponent, but most importantly, we could
not fully counter the nearly three quarters of a million dollars WEAC
spent on his behalf.

But we sure gave them a run for their money, In spite of the spending
gap…and for that I am eternally grateful for all your help.

To my family... My husband Javier, and my children……….I can not
possibly fully express my appreciation.

Javier had to pick up the slack at home and at our business, all while
maintaining his duties with the Waukesha Fire Department.

And the kids. You were great.

I know mom was gone more over these last few months than at anytime in
your lives…your contributions won’t show up on any finance report, but
your understanding and support is what sustained me in this
race….Thank you guys. I love you.

I’d like to thank my campaign team for your guidance and dedication.
We were a scrappy bunch and I am not alone in being impressed with
what we were able to accomplish.

Unfortunately, we fell just short. But this is not a moment of
bitterness, rather just time to turn the page and move on to new
endeavors.

A few minutes ago I called Tony Evers and wished him congratulations
and the best of luck as he heads DPI.

While I wasn’t pleased with some of the developments in the campaign,
as I said on the campaign trail…We all have a vested interest in the
success of our public schools.

It remains my hope, that because of the heat we put on in this race,
DPI will still change.

I sincerely hope Superintendent-Elect Evers will not feel beholden to
the special interests that got him elected…and we should all give him
a chance to prove his independence.

Well, no one said this would be easy. We were the under-funded
underdog from day one. We built an insurgent campaign and exceeded
almost everyone’s expectations. I do not regret running. And I am
proud of how I ran. We stayed positive. Ran on the issues. Built an
impressive network in a short period of time.

Of course, we had hoped that more folks who tout the need for private
sector growth and public sector restraint, would invest in our
efforts. But tonight is not a night to analyze what didn’t work out.

Tonight, with all of you, I am here to appreciate what did work.
Hundreds of you made calls, donated funds, handed out literature…
Called into raido shows…wrote letters to the editor…

We ran on a platform of change and reform, and that doesn’t go away
tonight. We will, each in our own way find other avenues by which we
can advance our agenda.

I hope you stay involved. I will.

But for now, it’s time for me to step out of the spotlight, and spend
some time at home and work.

Thanks again, everyone, for your love and support. I will never forget
that when I asked, you were there for me.

This campaign was always about the Children of Wisconsin. Our shared
concern for them isn’t stilled by the results of one election. If we
always put them first, we always win!

Thank you, and God Bless.

So, who're votin' for?

This is when most bloggers put out their endorsements, something from which I abstain for the most part. Still, some races are worth last-minute commentary.

Out of personal friendship I wish Mike Mathias well tomorrow in his race for Milwaukee School Board. While Mike and I rarely agree politically, Mike is a very thoughtful person who will represent the district in an honest and ethical manner. Mike is a good person committed to making the public schools work. If he wins, I predict his time in office will surprise friend and foe alike.

In Waukesha, I have no idea who is going to win their seats on the school board. I can also tell you that none of them deserve to win. Not one of the candidates asked for my vote, and I vote in every election. Not one e-mail, not one person knocking at my door, not one flier, not one mail piece, not one phone call. Tomorrow we'll have to listen to the usual whining about low turnout. If nobody asked for your vote, why should you be blamed for sitting at home?

In New Berlin, I'll make the prediction that the conservative slate will again win election to the school board. The only controversy which could have been affected by the school board was the decision to move the graduation ceremony from Elmbrook. (My own thoughts are here.) Given that the opposition would have made the same decision, and given the recent history of costly lawsuits in New Berlin, I suspect it won't be an issue.

I'm predicting Ted Wysocki will return as New Berlin's mayor. Just a hunch, based upon the turbulent political history of that city.

Jefferson Davis will not rise again, and Randy Newman will win re-election in Menomonee Falls despite the opposition of "short people."

I think Daniel Gabler will beat J.D. Watts for judge in Milwaukee. I think his ad campaign was simple, direct, and had a theme that appealed to taxpayers.

Ellen Brostrom should defeat Christopher Lipscomb, if only because of her connections. This incident, while amusing, shouldn't affect the outcome, but it certainly doesn't help Lipscomb, either. By the way, I find anonymous tips much more convincing when they're accompanied by large cash payments.

The West Bend Schools referendum will get clubbed like a baby seal. If the voters weren't inclined to vote for it when the times were good, they ain't gonna vote for it now.

Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson will win re-election. As somebody explained to me last year after the Gableman win, it took a "perfect storm" to defeat an incumbent supreme court justice, even one as weak as Louis Butler. Despite having (I think) a better candidate who ran a better campaign, the money was not there, the interest wasn't there, and (unfortunately) Abrahamson is an institution. Or she belongs in one. Either way, she wins tomorrow. Koschnick folks can take heart that I predicted the conservative candidate was going to lose in each of the last two supreme court races.

Finally, I have no idea who is going to win the state DPI race. Rose Fernandez was always a long-shot, but she's run a strong, principled race her campaign can be proud of. Her opponent, Tony Evers, generates all the enthusiasm of watching a snail race, except when he's breaking state law. If he loses tomorrow, watch how quickly his allies start complaining about how bad he was as a candidate.

Closing in on the end of the Fernandez-Evers race

Election day is tomorrow, and in my latest column for the Waukesha Freeman I looked at the twists and turns of the Fernandez-Evers race for state superintendent of public instruction. I conclude,

There are, of course, serious issues in the campaign. As an employee of the state Department of Public Instruction, Evers spearheaded the effort to close down Wisconsin’s virtual schools. Evers has not shown any independence from the teachers unions. Evers endorses the lifting of the state QEO even though it will cause an explosion in Wisconsin’s already high property taxes.

Fernandez has a plan to attack the education problems in the Milwaukee Public Schools, supports exploring alternatives to the public schools, supports rewarding good teachers with merit pay within the qualified economic offer framework and has received bipartisan political support from across every demographic and geographic line.

What remains to be seen is if the last-minute WEAC media blitz, complete with juvenile photo doctoring, will be enough to motivate teachers union members to show up in force on Tuesday to protect the status quo, or will there be enough enthusiastic supporters of Fernandez to carry the day?

Evers does something without asking WEAC's permission

Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers admitted today that he did something without asking the permission of WEAC first.

“I chewed chewing gum. Bubble gum, actually, although I did not blow any bubbles because I was hoping not to get caught.”

WEAC President Mary Bell was not amused by what she characterized as “disruptive behavior.”

“This is not the first time Mr. Evers has misbehaved. Just last week I caught him running though the halls at the Department of Public Instruction. Apparently 30 minutes detention did not teach him a lesson.”

Evers, known for his obediant behavior towards WEAC, has even taken to raising his hand to ask permission to go to the bathroom. However, he noted, sometimes he gets in trouble. “Last month I with my best friend Jeff and showed him a drawing I made of Rose Fernandez. We sat and giggled the whole meeting. And then Ms. Bell saw it and she made me write 100 times on the blackboard, ‘I will not draw funny pictures of my opponent.’ I don’t know why Ms. Bell got so sore. She’s using it in an ad.”

Education Secretary Says Mayors Should Take Control of Bad Inner-City Schools

President Obama's Education Secretary says urban mayors should take control of bad inner-city schools.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday that mayors should take control of big-city school districts where academic performance is suffering.

Duncan said mayoral control provides the strong leadership and stability needed to overhaul urban schools.

Mayors run the schools in fewer than a dozen big cities; only seven have full control over management and operations. That includes Chicago, where Duncan headed the school system until joining the Obama administration.

Speaking at a forum with mayors and superintendents, Duncan promised to help more mayors take over.

"At the end of my tenure, if only seven mayors are in control, I think I will have failed," Duncan said.

He offered to do whatever he can to make the case. "I'll come to your cities," Duncan said. "I'll meet with your editorial boards. I'll talk with your business communities. I will be there."

It's worth noting then that he might have a more receptive ear after next Tuesday's election in Wisconsin for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Candidate Rose Fernandez has already promised to push for the creation of a "turnaround team" to attack the problems of the Milwaukee Public Schools.

Still others in the state, such as State Representative Leah Vukmir and State Senator Ted Kanavas, are exploring different ways to change the structure of Milwaukee Public Schools to help address the problems.

Perhaps instead of running an administrative toady and engaging in juvenile photo shop antics the state teachers union might try to find a way to be a part of the solutions to the education problems in Milwaukee.

I'm surprised they didn't add a mustache and horns

WEAC has surrendered control to their baser instincts in the campaign for Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. Their candidate, Tony Evers, must not be inspiring too much confidence at WEAC headquarters for them to sink so low as to actually photo shop a picture of Evers' opponent, Rose Fernandez, to make her appear as if she is scowling. The doctored picture appears in their latest ad on behalf of Evers.


A quick check of Wispolitics.com and the Wheeler Report does not show any signs of any press releases by the Evers campaign critical of the WEAC ad. Of course, it's probably because the Evers campaign couldn't find the e-mail addresses on a state directory.

Statement from Rose Fernandez on the Evers-Dickert e-mails

Statement from Rose Fernandez:

"This is exactly why we need to change DPI.

"I was dismayed to hear that my opponent may have broken state law by soliciting campaign funds and other forms of support from a public official via taxpayer-funded resources; and, that he apparently asked that same official to use his position and state resources to bring even more funds into his vast campaign war chest. This 'win at all cost' mentality is a poor example to set for our state's schoolchildren.

"Democrats, Republicans and Independents are supporting my candidacy because I can bring an independent voice and a fresh perspective to the Department of Public Instruction. Despite my broad coalition of support, I knew going into this race that with the Madison-based teachers' union throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars behind my opponent, we would be the underdog in this race. However, I had not counted on Mr. Evers also having the use of public employees and taxpayer resources to raise campaign money for him.

"Despite these odds, I still have faith in the voters of Wisconsin. We came in a close second in the Primary despite being vastly outspent. Voters have been invigorated by my positive call for higher academic standards, merit pay for teachers, and honest educational reform. With two weeks left, this race is tied, and despite the looming special interest TV ads and Mr. Evers' apparent abuse of the public trust and public resources, we continue our campaign to change DPI.

"Those who are interested in leveling the playing field can legally contribute to our campaign at www.ChangeDPI.com."

The sound and fury of the Pridemore affair

State Representative Don Pridemore and his staff are in a little hot water because of a press release they issued attacking Tony Evers, candidate for state superintendent of public instruction. The press release was sent out using a state e-mail address and on the state assembly office letterhead, and it listed the representative’s toll-free state office phone number.

The press release read:

Madison- State Representative Don Pridemore(R-Hartford) issued the following statement regarding Tony Evers.

“One thing we can all agree on is that Wisconsin needs to change the way we educate our children. We need to continue programs that are working and re-evaluate or discontinue programs that are not. We need to have fresh ideas and a new outlook on what is important in our state’s educational system. We cannot continue to throw good money after bad and we need to offer more choices to parents and families in this state.

Tony Evers clearly represents four more years of the same failed policies that has our education system in Wisconsin wasting more and more taxpayer dollars, without any significant increase in the results. When former State Representative Sue Jeskewitz called for an audit of the SAGE program, Tony Evers was there to say NO WAY! The SAGE program is costing the taxpayers of Wisconsin just short of 224 million dollars per biennium. Imagine spending that kind of money without knowing where it is going or how effective the program has been in improving the education of our children.

Tony Evers is calling for the repeal of the qualified economic offer QEO that teachers now enjoy. The QEO simply states that if school districts offer less than a 3.8% increase in wages and benefits for teachers, the union can demand arbitration. Tony Evers supports removing the QEO and revenue limits, leaving school boards, taxpayers and teachers to fight over contracts each budget cycle, further alienating teachers from their communities. That is a short sighted approach that caters to the WEAC agenda and shows a lack of leadership and independence.

Furthermore, being in the pocket of WEAC the most powerful lobby group in the state (which by the way uses your tax dollars from teacher salaries to run ads against any candidate they don’t agree with) will assure us that Tony Evers will oppose every idea or program that does not increase WEAC’s monopoly on education. WEAC is a teachers union and that union represents the interests of school teachers and school teachers only. Despite WEAC’s million dollar advertizing blitz trying to claim “every kid deserves a great school”, WEAC has repeatedly rejected any idea that does not maintain their selfish interests.

These issues alone make Tony Evers a bad choice to lead Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction into the future.

Missing from the press release was any expressed advocacy that someone should vote for Evers’ opponent, Rose Fernandez. No mention was made of her at all, and the reader is left to make their own conclusions. While it may not have been the brightest thing in the world to do, I think it would be hard to call this illegal.

After all, if we were to send to little GAB prison every politician who took a pot shot at another politician in a press release, Governor Doyle would have to open the prison doors just so the Senate and the Assembly could have quorums.

There is a certain irony, of course, that draws our attention to the matter. It wasn’t that long ago that Representative Pridemore explored the idea of further tightening the restrictions on free speech in this state by requiring all organizations that engage in issue advocacy to identify their donors. This in turn prompted reaction by Wisconsin Right to Life, followed by the Pridemore paranoia that WRTL was going to recruit the Bucher Boogeyman to run against Pridemore in a primary. Perhaps after examination under the microscope of the GAB, Representative Pridemore will be that much more reluctant to see more state control of free speech in the future. One can only hope.

Interesting, too, who filed the complaint against Pridemore. I have learned it was filed by Democratic Attorney Mike Maistelman, the favorite Democratic go-to for this kind of work. Maistelman confirmed for me that he was hired by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for this matter, even though it is a non-partisan race.

Well, non-partisan in the sense that the office is non-partisan. And the candidate not involved in this affair, Rose Fernandez, is certainly non-partisan, attracting support from independents, Democrats, Republicans, WEAC union members, and people of every background.

You may remember in the primary the Republican establishment candidate, Van Mobley, was easily trounced despite a large war chest and endorsements by several leading Republicans.

That leaves the Democrats, and if there was any doubt left as to who is beholden to the Democrats and the WEAC leadership, it was erased when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin filed this complaint on behalf of Tony Evers. They are determined to drag this dog of a candidate across the finish line and continue their stranglehold over this government body.

One wonders how this worked. When WEAC decided not to get their hands dirty and told the Democrats, “Jump!” did Alec Loftus even ask, “How high?” Or did the Democrats just scurry over their keyboards and Blackberries to obey? I have this vision of hunch-backed half-witted gophers answering to the beck and call of the WEAC Dr. Frankenstein. “Yes, masters, we hear and obey.”

And putting Loftus out there to be shocked, shocked that politics might be going on in the Capitol Dome is a bit rich, given his father’s confessions in print of activity that would make Chuck Chvala blush.

At least it gives the liberal bloggers a chance to yell, “We found one! We found one!” Good thing the DPW was there to help. If only it were nearly as serious as the case the Democrats, the liberal bloggers and their friends in the media did not want to talk about.

But since my opinion on this matter was so eagerly desired (such enthusiasm from my fans), we're sure liberal bloggers one and all will read my words of wisdom and readily agree that the Democratic complaint really is sound and fury signifying nothing.

The Wisconsin State Journal endorsed Rose Fernandez

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison's other liberal newspaper, announced on Thursday their endorsement of Rose Fernandez for state superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction.

The State Journal endorses Fernandez.

The pediatric nurse and mother of five will be a strong advocate for change -- someone who will use the mostly symbolic post of state schools superintendent as a bully pulpit to press for reforms, many of which President Barack Obama favors.

With so many high school students failing to graduate in Milwaukee, with so much at stake for Wisconsin in the changing, knowledge-based economy, Fernandez is the best candidate to invigorate DPI.

Fernandez, of Mukwonogo, drew public attention last year for her advocacy of public online charter schools. She helped push for a bipartisan legislative compromise that allowed virtual schools to continue serving thousands of students online with more accountability.

Yet Fernandez is quick to acknowledge that online schools serve less than half a percent of Wisconsin's students and "always will be a fraction."

Her primary focus is invigorating brick-and-mortar public schools to give parents and children "a broad menu of options," clear standards and strong support. Like Obama, she favors more charter and specialty schools to encourage innovation, merit pay for teachers and greater emphasis on math and science. Fernandez also supports alternative certification methods to bring more minority teachers into the K-12 system to serve as role models.

Fernandez talks passionately about making sure every child is prepared for a strong start in school. She's not just interested in more 4-year-old kindergarten programs. She talks about the potential need for 3-year-old kindergarten.

Great things are happening in every public school district across the state, Fernandez stresses. Yet great challenges must be acknowledged and aggressively addressed.

Upcoming joint appearances of Fernandez and Evers

State DPI Superintendent candidates Rose Fernandez and Tony Evers will be having a number of joint appearances. The Fernandez campaign sent me a list of opportunities for you to see the two candidates together and judge for yourself who will be a leader for better education in Wisconsin.

Fernandez and Evers also appeared on Up Front with Mike Gousha, highlights available tomorrow. Gousha also has a special web-only segment on the Milwaukee voucher program.

Monday, March 9th

· 12 pm: Northshore Rotary Club

· 7 pm: Disability Rights Forum at Independence First in Milwaukee

Wednesday, March 11th

· 11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Madison Rotary Club at Alliant Energy Center

Thursday, March 12th

· 11:45 a.m.: Public Policy Forum at Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee

Wednesday, March 18th

· 11:30 a.m.: WASB Luncheon/Candidate Forum at Monona Terrace in Madison

· 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Milw City Council PTA & WAWM PTA Council Candidate Forum

Friday, March 20th

· 7 pm: Wisconsin Public TV Debate in Madison

Tuesday, March 24th

· 12 pm: Rotary Club Debate at the War Memorial in Milwaukee

Thursday, March 26th

· 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Forum/Debate @ Marquette Law School, Milwaukee

· 7 p.m. Project Vote Candidate Forum, Green Bay *Confirmed Rose’s availability. Organizers still working with Evers campaign as they have not confirmed his participation.

Rose Fernandez speaking at the AFP Defending the American Dream Summit

Rose Fernandez now speaking. Warmly received. "You are looking at a mom on a mission."

"We have lives on the line in the classroom, and we need to do a better job."

Start with higher standards. "Kids in Wisconsin should not only get the best education in America, but the best education in the world."

"We want our kids to excel; we should expect the same from the big desk in the room."

"Challenge the school to serve the student, not the system."

Milwaukee: half the chairs at graduation are going to be empty. What happens when a kid does not graduate high school? Sheriff Clarke will tell you they are crowding their jail."

"We're going to surprise them on April 7th."

"We know we can do better; we will do better."

Probably in the one room that needs air conditioning

Just a couple of quick notes. Still standing-room-only. Expecting some announcements later today that will definitely be newsworthy.

I spoke with Brian Fraley and with state DPI Superintendent candidate Rose Fernandez. Both are excited about the progress of the campaign. "Things are really starting to happen now," according to Fernandez. Fraley is excited about how the campaign is truly an independent campaign. He told me how they are getting die-hard Obama supporters in Milwaukee's central city to volunteer for the Fernandez campaign.

The hallway before the event resembled the lobby scene from Jerry Maguire.

I am waiting for someone to say,

But if anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the ground floor of something real and fun and inspiring and true in this godforsaken business and we will do it together! Who's coming with me besides...”Flipper" here?

Holding our schools to a higher standard

At least the state DPI race is being fought over the issues, albeit a trifle one-sided. Candidate Rose Fernandez is challenging the educational establishment again, this time over standards:

There is no doubt that Wisconsin has some great public schools. But without solid standards and the ability to accurately measure student performance we will never know just how good our schools really are.

A recent study issued by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute evaluated states’ academic standards and found that Wisconsin’s standards were among the lowest in the country.

That’s not acceptable and it’s time for a change.

President Obama’s Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has called for states to adopt academic standards that are more rigorous and comparable with those of other leading nations.

I agree. And as your State Superintendent I will see to it that Wisconsin does just that.

Presently, there are vast differences between Wisconsin’s model academic standards in core areas and those in states like Massachusetts and Virginia. There, the standards have both clear objectives and tangible expectations for each grade or two-year intervals.

Unfortunately, too often, Wisconsin’s standards are neither as rigorous nor tangible; and the state merely measures performance standards in fourth, eighth and twelfth grades.

Here’s just one example of the problem: The math standards in Massachusetts expect a child in the first or second grade to find the value of combinations of coins and dollar bills up to $5. In Virginia the first grade standard is to do the same for a dollar bill.

In Wisconsin, we challenge fourth graders to master change combinations up to thirty cents.

Here's her plan:

In my first 100 days as State Superintendent, I will bring together teachers, parents and employers to begin the process of having new, rigorous and tangible academic standards in place by 2010.

This debate is not about federal or state education mandates. Rather, I believe DPI should provide model standards from which local districts can build their expectations for the students within their schools.

We also need to improve the state’s assessment system at the same time as our standards are upgraded.

It’s time for a change.

I will bring the parents, teachers, employers and education leaders from around the state together to build a set of standards that are understandable, tangible, rigorous and realistic.

Teachers deserve to have concrete, understandable expectations and our students deserve to be challenged to excel and have their success measured honestly.

In other news in the race, State DPI official Jeff Dickert told WTAQ-AM’s Jerry Bader yesterday he realizes he was wrong to send out an invitation to a Tony Evers fundraiser using his state government e-mail account. He contacted the state Government Accountability Board, claims it’s a “self-referral” (even though CRG Network filed a complaint) and also claims that he would have sent the same type of e-mail for Rose Fernandez (hilarious).

I don’t want to spend a lot of time on this lest I be accused of letting the issue “consume” me* but I’m just fascinated with how someone will turn themselves in to the state Government Accountability Board. Will his lawyer block the cameras with legal papers? Will Dickert pull his coat over his head as he walks into the state GAB offices? Oh, that’s right. There won’t be any cameras there. No newspapers. Good thing conservative bloggers and talk radio are covering the story.

* For an English teacher, Jay Bullock of the center square has real trouble with English.

When the education establishment breaks the law

Jeff Dickert is this week's poster boy for a desperate education establishment afraid that their grip on the state department for public instruction may be slipping away. As WISN's Mark Belling reported first on Friday, Dickert sent out an e-mail invitation to a fundraiser for WEAC-endorsed Tony Evers in violation of the law. Badger Blogger also reported on it on Saturday.

Jeff Dickert is the administrator of the Cooperative Educational Service Agency #7, a state agency that coordinates with the schools of Northeastern Wisconsin. Dickert, in clear violation of the law, has been doing political work on behalf of the teachers union and AFSCME backed candidate, the entrenched Tony Evers. Jeff Dickert has used state resources to not only campaign, but to raise money for Evers, by using his official Wisconsin email account and email list to campaign to public school administrators of Wisconsin and encourages them to pass the message along to their principals and teachers. This is clearly a violation of the law by a public official that is in a position that clearly knows the rules for doing political work with state resources.

Badger Blogger also has posted the e-mail in question. The e-mail had an attached flier created by the Evers campaign. Evers' opponent is Rose Fernandez who ran nearly even with Evers in the primary despite being drastically outspent.

On Vicki McKenna's show today on WISN-AM it was revealed CRG Network is filing a complaint with the state Government Accountability Board. A commenter at Badger Blogger claims Dickert will be on WTAQ-AM with Jerry Bader tomorrow to defend himself.

Telling endorsements in the State DPI race

Rock 'em sock 'em news in the state DPI race. Rose Fernandez announced an endorsement by State Representative Bob Ziegelbauer (Dem-Manitowoc).

“I am happy to lend my support to Rose Fernandez for DPI Superintendent,” said Ziegelbauer. “She’s been a refreshing voice for change where it's desperately needed and has the priorities that will lead to success.”

Ziegelbauer has served as a Democrat in the Wisconsin State Assembly since 1992. Since 2006, he has also been the Manitowoc County Executive.

His endorsement is further proof that the Fernandez campaign has a geographical and bipartisan appeal that is unique to previous challengers to the WEAC-backed candidates for State Superintendent. In last week’s Primary, Fernandez finished a mere four percentage points behind the WEAC candidate despite being outspent by him and supporters by more than 10:1.

Fernandez won in both Republican and Democrat areas and in urban and rural communities across Wisconsin.

For example, Rose finished first in the cities of Milwaukee and Superior. Also included in the areas won by Fernandez are counties as varied as Waukesha, Marathon, La Crosse and Vilas.

The Fernandez campaign also announced today they have qualified for public financing of their campaign. Her campaign manager, Brian Fraley, sent out this announcement:

“The great news is that the Rose Fernandez campaign has caught fire and has raised $11,645 in qualifying contributions to become eligible for the public financing grant, and we have agreed to the corresponding spending limit of $215,625 We have every confidence that the staff at the GAB will sort through the technical glitches from their system and this information will be easily accessible, soon.

“From February 2nd through Primary Election Day our campaign caught fire. On the ground, we gained 31 percent of the vote, only four points from the leader, in spite of being outspent by the combined WEAC-Evers campaign by a nearly 10:1 margin. Contributions also began to pour in. We raised nearly $10,000 in that period,
which helped us pay for radio advertising, some phone calls and to soup up our website, www.ChangeDPI.com."

The WEAC-endorsed Evers campaign announced an endorsement of their own from Governor Doyle.

"We are fortunate in Wisconsin to have such a strong leader as Tony Evers to be a candidate for this office, who brings deep knowledge, experience and personal commitment to our students, parents and teachers," Doyle declared in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

"Having worked in public education for 34 years in communities across our state, providing leadership to continually improve our schools, Tony is the clear choice for voters on April 7."

Evers finished first in last Tuesday's five-way primary for the post but faces a determined challenge from virtual schools advocate Rose Fernandez.

In the primary, Evers won 35 percent of the vote to 31 percent for Fernandez, with the remainder of the vote going to college professors Todd Price and Van Mobley and Beloit Schools Superintendent Lowell Holtz.

Evers, who has the endorsement of the state's teachers unions, worked for eight years with outgoing Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster, a close Doyle ally.

The governor's endorsement does not come as a complete surprise. His closeness to Burmaster and the state's largest teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, led observers of the race to expect Doyle would lean toward Evers.

Doyle, you may recall, almost ruined the bipartisan compromise worked out for virtual education last year at the behest of his masters at WEAC. Evers was the point man in the Department of Public Instruction trying to torpedo virtual schools. Two peas in a pod.

Charlie Sykes interview of Rose Fernandez

Charlie Sykes talked about the state DPI race and interviewed Rose Fernandez today. It really is an amazing story.

Evers vs. the reformer

Aaron Rodriguez previews the post-primary race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The key to Fernandez' primary victory lies in her tenacious reputation of being strong advocate for parents. Her constituency knows that she is willing to lock horns with any entity or special interest group that wants to restrict parental choice. And yes, this includes the WEAC.

Evers has the backing of the local media and the Teachers' Union, and thus he will be a formidable opponent. However, in order to win, Evers must confront Fernandez' swelling grassroots movement of concerned parents and frustrated taxpayers. This will be an interesting story to follow.

Counting the votes and checking the names

First, congratulations to Rose Fernandez and her campaign team. Despite being outspent by a wide margin, she advances to the general election for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. With 94% of the vote reporting:

Tony Evers 83,768 35%
Rose Fernandez 73,912 31%
Van Mobley 31,982 14%
Todd Price 26,637 11%
Lowell Holtz 20,593 9%

Congratulations, too, to Michael Mathias in the MPS district 4 school board race. Mike also advances to the general election while incumbent Charlene Hardin failed in her write-in campaign.

Evers and Fernandez faced off before

Mike Dean and the First Freedoms Foundation, in the latest FFF newsletter, give the history of the last time State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Rose Fernandez and Tony Evers squared off. If you are interested in supporting the work of the First Freedoms Foundation, please visit their website.


Tuesday Primary for Superintendent of Instruction Includes Foes in Virtual School Fight

On Tuesday, February 17, five candidates will face off in the primary election in the race to succeed outgoing Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, Elizabeth Burmaster. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Tony Evers
Rose Fernandez
Lowell Holtz
Van Mobley
Todd Allen Price

The two who receive the highest vote totals will oppose each other in the general election on April 7.

For Tony Evers and Rose Fernandez, however, Tuesday's election won't be the first time they've squared off. In 2004, WEAC (the state teachers union) sued to close Wisconsin Virtual Academy ("WIVA"), an innovative charter school operated by the Northern Ozaukee School District. WEAC also sued Superintendent Burmaster, demanding an injunction to prevent her from paying state reimbursements to the District for students enrolled in WIVA. Assistant Superintendent (and current candidate) Tony Evers was Burmaster's "point man" in the suit.

WEAC's main complaint was that WIVA parents were too involved in teaching their children because parents were not "licensed" to teach in a public school. When Burmaster and Evers "switched sides" and supported WEAC in 2005, First Freedoms Foundation intervened on behalf of state representative Mark Gundrum, his family, and nine other families whose children attended WIVA.

Rose Fernandez' children were also enrolled in WIVA, so she organized a support group, the "Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families." The Coalition filed a briefarguing that parents helping teach their own children did not violate state law.

The trial court granted judgment for the District and parents, and WEAC appealed. First Freedoms submitted a brief arguing that the only rational way to read state certification statutes was as a standard for minimum qualifications and performance by classroom teachers employed by school districts - that certification is a "floor" prohibiting certified teachers from doing too little, not a "ceiling" prohibiting parents from doing too much. The Coalition also filed a brief supporting parents' rights to assist in their children's education.

During the trial phase, attorneys for First Freedoms Foundation and the District had conducted an extensive deposition of Dr. Evers. First Freedoms' brief included numerous statements by Evers where he admitted that even though there were no standards providing how much certified teachers must actually teach, it was still his opinion that WIVA was illegal because parents were teaching too much.

The Superintendent's opening and reply briefs echoed Evers' position - even though there were no standards prescribing minimum performance by certified teachers, parents were still doing too much.

Unfortunately, the court of appeals decision overturned the trial court, and ordered the Superintendent to stop paying reimbursements to the district. The order to "defund" WIVA would have killed it, so First Freedoms and the District immediately appealed.

While the appeal was pending, however, Fernandez led the Coalition in a successful effort to pass legislation approving WIVA's method of operation, 2007 Wisconsin Act 222. The new law saved WIVA and several similar virtual schools across the state.

If Evers and Fernandez emerge the winners from Tuesday's primary, the April 7th general election could well be a statewide test whether Wisconsin voters favor Fernandez' philosophy of greater innovation and involvement by parents and non-certified persons or, instead, favor Evers' view that children are best served by restricting teaching exclusively to certified teachers.

Charlie Sykes formally endorses Fernandez

Charlie Sykes formerly announced his endorsement today of Rose Fernandez for State Superintendent for the Department of Public Instruction. He includes a link to his on-air remarks supporting Fernandez the other day.

Rose Fernandez is exactly the kind of person we need. She doesn't represent the teachers' union; she's willing to take on the teachers' union. She's not part of the establishment; she's willing to challenge the establishment. She is not an educational bureaucrat. She thinks that the system should work for students, what a radical concept. Rose Fernandez is the only one in this race who thinks the schools ought to be about the kids.

Sykes also links to newspaper columns by me and Owen Robinson supporting her candidacy.