Michele Bachmann's 1999 school board campaign

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Having been told by GOP regional leader Bill Pulkrabek to delay her hopes of securing a seat on the state senate, Michele Bachmann followed his instructions and ran for Stillwater school board. Uncharacteristicly she did not devote her time solely to securing the position, instead dividing her time between the campaign and travelling across the state of Minnesota to criticize public school policies.

Contents 1 Campaigns for school board 2 GOP slate 3 Bachmann's strategy 4 Appearances with EdWatch 5 As election draws near Bachmann focuses on EdWatch 6 Election results 7 Post-election activities with EdWatch 8 Sources

[edit] Campaigns for school board

In 1999 to further her ideas on school reform and believing that “School board members had some autonomy to reject some standards [of the Profile of Learning]”,^[1] Bachmann took the advice of Bill Pulkrabek (then the head of the GOP's chair for the Stillwater District) and ran for the Stillwater School Board.^[2]

[edit] GOP slate

In a controversial development Pulkrabek had his party endorse Bachmann and four other conservatives to what had always been traditionally nonpartisan positions.^[2] The slate of endorsed candidates also were controversial because many didn’t have any children attending Public School in the district (placing their children in charter schools or homeschooling). Many parents were upset by what they saw as an overtly partisan and ideological campaign by the GOP slate.^[2]

[edit] Bachmann's strategy

Bachmann’s campaign emphasized her opposition to the Profile of Learning, a state-mandated curriculum that many social conservatives felt promoted secular humanism.^[3] Critics also claim that the GOP was funding the campaigns of its endorsed slate for the Stillwater school board, a claim Bachmann denies.^[1]

[edit] Appearances with EdWatch

In September 1999, despite running for the Stillwater School Board, Bachmann made appearances in other areas of Minnesota with EdWatch's Michael Chapman (founder of American Heritage Research, and the author of such articles as “The Christ-ophobic Bias In America’s Curriculum”^[4] and “Education for Sustainable Tyranny: The United Nations Plan for Our Children”^[5]). They appeared together at Hutchinson and Thief River Falls (93 miles and 335 miles away from Stillwater respectively). She and Chapman also were interviewed at the Minnesota State Fair on KKMS Christian Talk Radio to “critically review the public comments made by Commissioner Christine Jax (of the Department of Children, Families & Learning) and Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk at the meeting in New Brighton sponsored by the League of Women Voters”^[6][7] which Bachmann had attended.^[8]

[edit] As election draws near Bachmann focuses on EdWatch

On October 28, 1999, despite the school board election being four days away, Bachmann appeared with State Representative Republican Mark Olson at Central Middle School Plymouth/Wayzata (40 miles away from Stillwater). There they presented arguments against the Profiles, before a segment where the standards were defended by Mary Lilsvie and Judy Rohde (of the Department of Children, Families & Learning, and the Minnesota Department of Education respectively). Commissioner Jax and Senator Pogemiller had withdrawn from the event after learning they would face opposition.^[9]

[edit] Election results

In the November Stillwater School Board elections Bachmann and the entire GOP's slate were soundly defeated,"Collectively, the five endorsed candidates finished dead last in the field."^[2] To date this remains her single political loss. Bachmann continues to place education and public school reform among her top priorities; her critics continue to point out that none of her biological children went to public school (attending either New Heights Charter School or being homeschooled).^[2][10]

[edit] Post-election activities with EdWatch

After losing the school board election on November 2; Bachmann continued with her pre-existing schedule of State-wide appearances with EdWatch's Chapman (the schedule had been drawn up on October 23, while her School Board campaign was still ongoing). Three days after the election she and Chapman appeared in Arden Hills at North Heights Lutheran on Nov. 5; then at Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church on Nov. 11; and Grace Church Roseville on Nov. 30th.^[11] On November 17, 1999, EdWatch began to sell cassette and VHS tapes of Bachmann and Chapman's speeches.^[12] Their appearance in Eden Praire was taped and later was broadcast on Time Warner cable’s public access channel (which aired in Edina, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Bloomington).^[13] Last to go on the schedule in 1999 was a presentation with Chapman at the Willmar Senior Center.^[14] In January 2000 Bachmann and Chapman again went statewide to speak against Minnesota's Educational Standards. They spoke at Way of the Cross Church, Blaine; Bloomington Lutheran School, West Bloomington. In February they spoke at Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud;^[15] and at Mound Free Church.^[16] Most notably Bachmann and Chapman spoke on January 25th at the Republican Senate District 42 conference, in Calvary Lutheran Church, Edina.^[15] On March 20, they spoke at Kenwood Trail Junior High School, Lakeville. Finally, on April 7, 2000 Bachmann and Chapman spoke at the Fairmont VFW,^[13] this was her last appearance with Chapman and EdWatch in 2000. She began to direct all her energies into running for State Senator.

[edit] Sources

1. ^ ^{a b} Anderson, Jr., G.R.. ""Somebody Say 'Oh Lord!'"", City Pages (Minneapolis), February 23, 2005.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Anderson, Jr., G.R.. ""The Chosen One"", City Pages (Minneapolis), October 4, 2006.
3. ^ Black, Eric. ""Profile: Michele Bachmann"", Star Tribune, October 17, 2006.
4. ^ Chapman, Michael (2005). The Christophobic Bias In America’s Curriculum. Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
5. ^ Chapman, Michael (2005). Education for Sustainable Tyranny: The United Nations Plan for Our Children. Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
6. ^ Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Aug. 31, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
7. ^ Challenges And Changes To The Profile Of Learning. Maple River Education Coalition. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
8. ^ Part II, "Challenges and Changes to the Profile of Learning.". Maple River Education Coalition (July 24, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
9. ^ Jax & Pogemiller Refuse Debate. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 27, 1999).
10. ^ Norman Draper, "GOP nod fails to help slate of five in Stillwater", Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 3, 1999
11. ^ HAPPENINGS. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 23, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
12. ^ Newest Happenings/Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Nov 17, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
13. ^ ^{a b} Updates & Happenings. Maple River Education Coalition (March 15, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
14. ^ Elections and Other Coming Events. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 30, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
15. ^ ^{a b} Happenings!. Maple River Education Coalition (Jan 4, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
16. ^ Updated Happenings!. Maple River Education Coalition (Jan 9, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006