Incumbent Tony Evers Defeated Challenger Lowell Holtz In Tuesday’s Only Statewide Contest
(AP, WPR)---Tony Evers has secured a third term as state superintendent and will lead Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, according to the Associated Press.
The incumbent defeated opponent Lowell Holtz in the only statewide race on the ballot during Tuesday’s spring election.
Evers took to Twitter to thank his supporters Tuesday night, saying "we won tonight because people care about their public schools."
"We have some big tasks ahead: funding our schools, supporting mental health needs, and stopping the negative rhetoric around teachers," he tweeted. "My view of the world is one with a glass half full, with a positive outlook for all Wisconsin kids."
The race for Wisconsin’s top education post was between two long-term educators but very different candidates. They sparred over education standards, school vouchers and student achievement.
Holz publicly advocated getting rid of educational standards known as Common Core. Forty states, including Wisconsin, adopted such standards in 2010.
Holz, a former superintendent of Beloit School District, believes individual school districts should set their own standards.
Evers disagrees, saying Common Core benefits families because there are similar standards in different school districts.
The pair also disagreed on school choice. Evers opposes the expansion of taxpayer-funded voucher programs; Holtz supports charter and voucher schools as an alternative to public schools.
Evers and Holtz also didn’t see eye to eye on how to best raise student achievement. The term for state superintendent is four years. Evers was first elected in 2009.
In a concession statement Holtz wished Evers well "in his new term."
"While tonight did not go as we had hoped, I am grateful to my family friends and supporters around Wisconsin who gave me the platform from which to engage in a dialogue about education in our state and raise serious regarding the condition of education in Wisconsin," the statement reads. " …I hope this campaign has broadened the way people view education reform in the state of Wisconsin."
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