While most of you were probably paying attention to the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and also to Kansas'
backwards slide on evolution, another exciting race was playing out behind the scenes. Eight seats on the Dover, Pennsylvania School Board were up for re-election today and all eight
were won by "Dover CARES" candidates. "Dover CARES" is a coalition put together to oppose adding religion to the science class curriculum. In short, if the School Board decided to vote on adding intelligent design to the curriculum again, the result would be a resounding "no". More below the fold.
Meanwhile, the closing arguments are over in the trial regarding the addition of intelligent design to the Dover Area School District. The judge has yet to make a decision. If the judge rules against the School District the school system will most likely be expected to pay the legal bills of the plaintiffs, which will number in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is a very real fiduciary incentive
not to add intelligent design to the curriculum in any state - you tend to get sued, and you tend to lose, and it tends to cost you lots of money that could much better be spent teaching your school children real science. It's just a shame that Dover has spoken out against intelligent design by outing the School Board just a little bit too late to avoid a lawsuit.
Here is the article text from the above-linked York Dispatch record that goes into depth on today's School Board election in Dover, Pennsylvania.
Dover CARES candidates swept eight seats available on the Dover Area School Board in tonight's election, according to unofficial vote totals from the York County elections office.
Sixteen candidates sought the eight seats and were split into two camps, based largely on the issue of intelligent design.
Dover CARES candidates think that if intelligent design is referenced, it should be in an elective course, such as comparative religion.
The incumbent school board members who were ousted in Tuesday's election favor mentioning intelligent design in biology classes.
Winning four-year seats tonight were Dover CARES candidates Bernadette Reinking (2,754 votes), Terry Emig (2,716), Herbert McIlvaine Jr. (2,677) and Bryan Rehm (2,625).
Incumbent board members seeking those seats were Sherrie Leber (2,584), James Cashman (2,526), Edward Rowand (2,547) and Alan Bonsell (2,469).
Winning two-year seats were Dover CARES candidates Lawrence Gurreri (2,623), Judy McIlvaine (2,658) and Patricia Dapp (2,670).
Incumbent board members seeking those seats were Eric Riddle (2,545), Ronald Short (2,544) and Sheila Harkins (2,466).
In a race for a separate two-year seat, Dover CARES candidate Phil Herman edged school board member David Napierskie, 2,542 votes to 2,516.