Don McLeroy is Texas Governor Rick Perry's pick to head the Board of Education, but his infusion of religion into his role as acting chair has the nomination on the ropes. His confirmation has focused on his beliefs that some form of creationism – whether intelligent design or just thinly veiled critiques of evolution – should be taught in science classes, a topic that has divided and consumed the Board during the last 2 years.
Getting at least 21 of the 31 Senate votes needed for confirmation could be difficult, Nominations Chairman Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, said.
“It’s my preference, if that is going to be the case, that we don’t bring him forward (to the Senate floor). There’s no sense in doing that,” Jackson said.
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, a member of the Nominations Committee, promised to fight McLeroy’s confirmation.
“Don McLeroy has used his role to inject his personal religious views into curriculum and textbooks, making Texas students less prepared to compete in a knowledge-based world,” Shapleigh said.
