Aug 30, 2005 7:47 am US/Central
Former Minnesota Official Picked To Oversee K-12
Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) ―
Former state education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke ended her campaign for Minnesota's 6th Congressional District on Monday to take a job overseeing Florida schools.
Yecke said Monday that she will be a chancellor in the Florida Department of Education in charge of K-12 under Gov. Jeb Bush. She supports the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
She said she sees her role as "continuing with the Bush initiatives and improving academic achievement ... continuing to close the achievement gap between rich and poor and between black and white."
Yecke had been education commissioner for more than a year but stepped down in May 2004 after the DFL-controlled Senate refused to confirm her appointment by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Democrats considered Yecke a divisive ideologue and didn't agree with her approach to education policy. But her ideas will fit in well with Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
She's a social conservative who supports the idea of vouchers, aggressive testing and accountability measures for schools. Like Bush, she created a system to grade schools. She also embraces the federal No Child Left Act that was pushed through by Bush's brother, President Bush.
Yecke, 50, has also served as Virginia's education secretary.
"Cheri is a lifelong and award-winning educator with unique insight into leading a statewide education system," Winn said in a release. "Her strong stance on accountability and middle school reform closely align with Florida's educational priorities."
Yecke's withdrawal from the congressional race leaves four candidates seeking the Republican endorsement for Minnesota's 6th District. Political observers said her departure would probably be a plus for Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, who won't have to compete with Yecke for the votes of social-conservative Republicans.
"It's going to help her in the battle for the Republican endorsement because of the tides of social conservatives and the Republican Party sway under social conservatives," said Lawrence Jacobs, a University of Minnesota political scientist.
Bachmann has pushed for a Minnesota constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Asked if Yecke's withdrawal from the 6th District race would improve her chances, Bachmann said, "I just hope the delegates find me to be their favorite."
Others in the Republican field are Rep. Phil Krinkie of Lino Lakes; Rep. Jim Knoblach of St. Cloud, and Cold Springs Granite executive Jay Esmay. In the Democratic race, former Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg faces Scott Mortensen of Woodbury, an internet sales manager.
Yecke said the Florida chancellor job pays a salary of $152,000 "and no state income tax."
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