Fresh Faces Making Runs for Governor

By Alan Richard

Elections 2002 When voters in 36 states elect governors next month, they will choose a new wave of state leaders who stand to make a powerful impact on K-12 education.

Twenty states are guaranteed to elect new chief executives, since several incumbents decided not to run again and others have reached term limits. The onslaught of potential new governors includes 10 women in nine states who are major-party nominees.

Depending on how incumbents fare, Nov. 5 could usher in the most significant turnover of governors in at least 16 years. And just about every candidate has an aggressive education agenda. Many want to spend more money on schools. Some...