Tompkins Courts Spearman For “Republican” Superintendent Bid
Veteran “GOP” consultant J. Warren Tompkins is aggressively courting former Democratic lawmaker (and current bureaucratic lobbyist) Molly Spearman to run in the Republican primary for State Superintendent of Education, sources tell FITS.
One of the architects and arch-defenders of South Carolina’s failed education status quo, Spearman currently serves as the executive director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators – a group dedicated to eradicating parental choice in the Palmetto State and preserving automatic funding increases for our state’s worst-in-the-nation (and worsening) public school system.
In addition to her work on behalf of our state’s lazy educrats, Spearman previously served as a top deputy to former Democratic Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum – another architect of our state’s “epic fail.”
Spearman has yet to agree to Tompkins’ request, but should she run as a Republican expect a visceral reaction from the fiscal conservative wing of the GOP.
Not surprisingly, this isn’t the first time Tompkins has tried to sneak a Democrat onto the GOP ballot for State Superintendent of Education. In 2006, he was the driving force behind the failed bid of RINO Bob Staton, who was overwhelmingly defeated in the Republican primary by Karen Floyd. Still, the primary weakened Floyd, who went on to lose the general election by a handful of votes to Democrat Jim Rex.
Speaking of Rex, the current Superintendent is not seeking a second term, and thusfar two Republicans have emerged in the race to replace him.
Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) High School teacher Kelly Payne announced her intention to run six weeks ago, right around the time Furman University professor Brent Nelsen abandoned his gubernatorial bid to run for State Superintendent.
Pic: The Voice
Comments
By GnuBerry on September 16th, 2009 at 9:34 am
You seem obsessed with vouchers.
By Matt on September 16th, 2009 at 10:06 am
One would think the Democratic brain-trust in SC (oops…made a funny there) would be courting Spearman to run as a Dem for the Supt. of Ed. spot. Looking at her own background, the attacks that Staton faced and that she would likely face in a GOP primary, and the fact that the last three Supt. of Ed. elections have gone to the Dems, I would think if she wants to run she ought to do so as a Dem.
By Toyota Kawaski on September 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
yesah Mr.Rich right aways sirs! May i have another Sir’s?
By Beatrice Thomlinson on September 16th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Don’t be fooled. The Democrats are courting Spearman as well. She has met with a number of them, including Jim Rex’s guy Zeke Stokes. Stay tuned.
By Mike on September 16th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
GnuBerry- you seem obsessed with inanity.
By Amanda Colt on September 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
If people have questioned Nelsen’s conservative credentials then Molly Spearman would make Nelsen look like an ultra conservative.
P.S. I keep seeing stuff about Kelly Payne getting into the race on this site but nowhere else on the internet. Is she even seriously considering this race? If so when is she going to announce and file paperwork?
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on September 16th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Wasn’t she an R when she left office? I mean, in name only, obviously, but still an R? That would make her RINO status a pre-existing condition, not something totally new drummed up by Tompkins.
By #1 It Kid on September 17th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Kelly Payne is as serious as a heart attack.
and this cardiac arrest is going to take SC by storm.
By Laurin on September 17th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Molly Spearman was a Republican when she left the legislature, which Will doesn’t mention. I think it’s to her credit that she’s not a rabid partisan because I don’t think State Superintendent of Education should be a partisan race. (I’m not really convinced it should be an elected office at all.)
Molly Spearman is a believer in the public school system and will work to make it stronger. She’s also got unrivaled (and bipartisan) credentials. To most folks that’s a good thing (although maybe not folks who read insider political blogs).