Changes

In 2010, Mercer won his second term, this one for two years, on the state board of education by defeating the Democrat Rebecca Bell-Meterean, an English professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, 262, 699 (59.3 percent) to 160,233 (36.2 percent). The Libertarian Mark Loewe held the remaining 20,052 ballots (4.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm|title=2010 General Election|date=November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> He won his third term to the board in 2012 by again defeating Rebecca Bell Metereau but in a closer outcome, 338,705 (51.3 percent) to 281,445 (42.6 percent). Libertarian Mark Loewe ran again and drew 28,407 votes (4.3 percent). The [[Green Party]] nominee, Irene Meyer Scharf, held the remaining 11,717 votes (1.77 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist164_state.htm|title=2012 General Election|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|title=November 6, 2012|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

In 2010, Mercer won his second term, this one for two years, on the state board of education by defeating the Democrat Rebecca Bell-Meterean, an English professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, 262, 699 (59.3 percent) to 160,233 (36.2 percent). The Libertarian Mark Loewe held the remaining 20,052 ballots (4.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm|title=2010 General Election|date=November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> He won his third term to the board in 2012 by again defeating Rebecca Bell Metereau but in a closer outcome, 338,705 (51.3 percent) to 281,445 (42.6 percent). Libertarian Mark Loewe ran again and drew 28,407 votes (4.3 percent). The [[Green Party]] nominee, Irene Meyer Scharf, held the remaining 11,717 votes (1.77 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist164_state.htm|title=2012 General Election|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|title=November 6, 2012|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

Mercer sits on the state board's school finance committee which oversees the Permanent School Fund, the largest education endowment in the United States. He is a member of the state board's Committee on School Initiatives and the vice chairman of the committees on School Initiatives and Instruction.<ref name=sboe/> Mercer has been known for his [[conservative]] views regarding the formulation of state standards in science and history. He is politically allied with Lieutenant Governor [[Dan Patrick]] and supported the failed bid of [[United States Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]] of Texas for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.<ref name=fbook>{[cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/KenMercerTX/|title=Ken Mercer|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=February 22, 2016}]</ref>

Mercer sits on the state board's school finance committee which oversees the Permanent School Fund, the largest education endowment in the United States. He is a member of the state board's Committee on School Initiatives and the vice chairman of the committees on School Initiatives and Instruction.<ref name=sboe/> Mercer has been known for his [[conservative]] views regarding the formulation of state standards in science and history. He is politically allied with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and supported the failed bid of [[United States Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]] of Texas for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.<ref name=fbook>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/KenMercerTX/|title=Ken Mercer|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

Mercer was a candidate for re-nomination to a fourth term on the state board in the Republican primary election on March 1, 2016.  Wayne Christian, a former state House member making a second bid for the [[Texas Railroad Commission]] in the November 8 general election has called Mercer "a rock-solid conservative with the backbone to stand up to the Far Left!"<ref name=fbook/> On November 8, Mercer again faces Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau, who describes him as "a solid vote for the most extreme and misguided decisions. He's still pushing for a vision of public education that is really contrary to how we were founded as a nation, the idea that free public education was a backbone of our nation."<ref name=ggarcia>Gilbert Garcia, "Professor makes 3rd run at SBOE stalwart", ''San Antonio Express-News'', August 19, 2016, p. A2</ref> Bell-Metereau in her statement implies that public education dates to 1789 instead of primarily the latter half of the nineteenth century. She questions Mercer's support for expanded [[charter school]]s and the emphasis on standardized testing in schools. An advocate of American exceptionalism, Mercer also  rejects [[Charles Darwin]]'s [[theory of evolution]],<ref name=ggarcia/>

Mercer was a candidate for re-nomination to a fourth term on the state board in the Republican primary election on March 1, 2016.  Wayne Christian, a former state House member making a second bid for the [[Texas Railroad Commission]] in the November 8 general election has called Mercer "a rock-solid conservative with the backbone to stand up to the Far Left!"<ref name=fbook/> On November 8, Mercer again faces Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau, who describes him as "a solid vote for the most extreme and misguided decisions. He's still pushing for a vision of public education that is really contrary to how we were founded as a nation, the idea that free public education was a backbone of our nation."<ref name=ggarcia>Gilbert Garcia, "Professor makes 3rd run at SBOE stalwart", ''San Antonio Express-News'', August 19, 2016, p. A2</ref> Bell-Metereau in her statement implies that public education dates to 1789 instead of primarily the latter half of the nineteenth century. She questions Mercer's support for expanded [[charter school]]s and the emphasis on standardized testing in schools. An advocate of American exceptionalism, Mercer also  rejects [[Charles Darwin]]'s [[theory of evolution]],<ref name=ggarcia/>

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[[Category:Texans]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]