Candidates File Nominations For Spring Elections

Candidates for state superintendent of schools have filed nomination papers for an April election.In the race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction, Superintendent Tony Evers filed papers to run for re-election and Republican Assemblyman Don Pridemore filed signatures to challenge him. Evers was first elected four years ago. He’s been critical of Gov. Scott Walker for cutting school funding and curbing teacher union rights, but he’s also worked with the governor on a system for measuring school performance. Evers says what separates him from Pridemore is his experience, including, “Thirty six years of experience in public education. Developing and implementing new standards in English language arts and mathematics. A new accountability system, assessment system.Looking for different ways, more fair ways to fund our schools and provide resources for our kids. So clearly those experiences that I just talked about, my opponent has not had those experiences.”

Pridemore’s background is in engineering. He was elected to the legislature in 2004. But he says that doesn’t preclude him from running for schools superintendent, “Well I’m also a parent. Education and election law are my passions, that’s why I ran for office. I’ve been on every education committee that the Assembly has had over the last eight years, and I’ve been frustrated with the fact that the education system continues to go downhill over the last eight years, even with all the money we put into it with the legislature.”

Two more candidates for state Supreme Court also filed signatures yesterday: Marquette Law Professor Ed Fallone and lemon law attorney Vince Megna. Incumbent Justice Patience Roggensack filed her signatures late last week.