Changes

Mercer and his two sisters, Patricia (husband Phillip) Dapeer and Sharon (husband Bobby) Barnes, are the children of Daniel Hall Mercer (1919-2002), who served in the United States Army Air Corps in [[World War II]] and the [[United States Air Force]] in the [[Korean War]] and was thereafter a career technical sergeant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Mercer&GSfn=Daniel&GSmn=Hall&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=72735817&df=all&|title=Daniel Hall Mercer|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> In 1950, Daniel Mercer married the former Mary Dalia Almaguer (1929-2015). The couple is interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=150252299|title=Mary Dalia Almaguer Mercer|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016}]</ref>

Mercer and his two sisters, Patricia (husband Phillip) Dapeer and Sharon (husband Bobby) Barnes, are the children of Daniel Hall Mercer (1919-2002), who served in the United States Army Air Corps in [[World War II]] and the [[United States Air Force]] in the [[Korean War]] and was thereafter a career technical sergeant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Mercer&GSfn=Daniel&GSmn=Hall&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=72735817&df=all&|title=Daniel Hall Mercer|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> In 1950, Daniel Mercer married the former Mary Dalia Almaguer (1929-2015). The couple is interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=150252299|title=Mary Dalia Almaguer Mercer|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=February 22, 2016}]</ref>

Mercer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in [[biology]] from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio (2005 "Alumnus of the Year"), and a Master of Business Administration in finance and management from [[St. Mary's University]], also in San Antonio. He is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Graduate Business Honor Society.<ref name=sboe>{{cite web|url=http://tea.texas.gov/index4.aspx?id=3421|title=SBOE Member District 5|publisher=tea.tsxas.gov|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

Mercer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in [[biology]] from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio (2005 "Alumnus of the Year"), and a Master of Business Administration in finance and management from St. Mary's University, also in San Antonio. He is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Graduate Business Honor Society.<ref name=sboe>{{cite web|url=http://tea.texas.gov/index4.aspx?id=3421|title=SBOE Member District 5|publisher=tea.tsxas.gov|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

==Political life==

==Political life==

Mercer handily won his party's nomination for the state House in the primary election held on March 12, 2002, by defeating Janie Martinez Gonzalez, 1,304 (63 percent) to 765 (37 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist89_state.htm|title=2002 Republican Primary Election|publisher=[[Texas Secretary of State]]|date=March 12, 2002|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

Mercer handily won his party's nomination for the state House in the primary election held on March 12, 2002, by defeating Janie Martinez Gonzalez, 1,304 (63 percent) to 765 (37 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist89_state.htm|title=2002 Republican Primary Election|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=March 12, 2002|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

On November 5, 2002, Mercer defeated the [[Democrat]] Raul Prado for the right to succeed the retiring five-term Democrat Representative John Amos Longoria. Mercer polled 12,703 (59 percent) to Prado's 8,138 (41 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist95_state.htm|title=2002 General Election|date=November 5, 2002|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 23, 2016}]</ref> In the House, Mercer served on the Higher Education, House Administration, and Transportation committees.<ref name=tlrl/>

On November 5, 2002, Mercer defeated the [[Democrat]] Raul Prado for the right to succeed the retiring five-term Democrat Representative John Amos Longoria. Mercer polled 12,703 (59 percent) to Prado's 8,138 (41 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist95_state.htm|title=2002 General Election|date=November 5, 2002|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> In the House, Mercer served on the Higher Education, House Administration, and Transportation committees.<ref name=tlrl/>

In 2003, Mercer was named "Legislator of the Year" by the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association. He is a former member of the Texas Homeland Security Council and formerly served on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee.<ref name=sboe/>  

In 2003, Mercer was named "Legislator of the Year" by the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association. He is a former member of the Texas Homeland Security Council and formerly served on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee.<ref name=sboe/>  

On November 2, 2004, Mercer lost by 498 votes his bid for a second term in the House. He received 19,209 votes (49.4 percent) to 19,707 (50.6 percent) for the Democrat David McQuade Leibowitz.

On November 2, 2004, Mercer lost by 498 votes his bid for a second term in the House. He received 19,209 votes (49.4 percent) to 19,707 (50.6 percent) for the Democrat David McQuade Leibowitz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist114_state.htm|title=2004 General Election|date=November 2, 2004|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist114_state.htm|title=2004 General Election|date=November 2, 2004|publisher=[[Texas Secretary of State]]|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

In 2006, Mercer rebounded politically to unseat fellow Republican Dan Montgomery in the race for the Texas Board of Education. After an indecisive [[primary election]], Mercer prevailed in a runoff contest, 13,359 votes (61.4 percent) to 7,776 (38.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist125_state.htm|title=2006 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election|date=April 11, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> In the [[general election]], Mercer defeated the [[Libertarian Party]] candidate, Bill Oliver, 234,807 (71.1 percent) to 95,406 (28.9 percent). No Democrat filed for the seat that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist127_state.htm|title=2006 General Election|date-November 7, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

In 2006, Mercer rebounded politically to unseat fellow Republican Dan Montgomery in the race for the Texas Board of Education. After an indecisive [[primary election]], Mercer prevailed in a runoff contest, 13,359 votes (61.4 percent) to 7,776 (38.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist125_state.htm|title=2006 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election|date=April 11, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> In the [[general election]], Mercer defeated the [[Libertarian Party]] candidate, Bill Oliver, 234,807 (71.1 percent) to 95,406 (28.9 percent). No Democrat filed for the seat that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist127_state.htm|title=2006 General Election|date-November 7, 2006|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=February 22, 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>

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.

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 (politician)|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>

<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 (politician)|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>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>ref name=ggarcia/>

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[[Category:Texas People]]

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