Election Loosens Conservatives' Hold on Texas Board

Bloc Had Votes to Swing Important Decisions About Standards

By April Castro, Associated Press

The Texas state school board’s influential Christian conservative bloc was weakened last week after one of its most prominent members lost a primary election to a moderate Republican. Another reliably conservative seat was headed to a runoff.

Don McLeroy, the former chairman, was handed a GOP primary defeat by lobbyist Thomas Ratliff.

Since the group of conservatives has been in the majority on the board, the national spotlight has shined on Texas’ controversies over evolution and social studies standards. ( "Vote Draws Near on Texas Curriculum," May 21, 2008, and "Texas School Board Backs More Inclusion in Social Studies Draft," ...