Missouri Revised Statute 161.032, as it pertains to qualifications of state Board of Education members, states that “not more than one of (the state board members) shall be a resident of the same county or congressional seat.” This section further states that “at no time shall more than four members be of the same political party.”
The current members of the Missouri State Board of Education (including their counties and congressional districts) are:
Peter Hershend – Taney County, CD 7
Russell Thompson – Boone County, CD 9
Archie Stanley – Jackson County, CD 5
Deborah Demien – St. Charles County, CD 2
Shirley Hindman – Butler County, CD 8
David Liechti – Buchanan County, CD 6
Sybl Slaughter – Laclede County, CD 4.
There are a number of Democratic senators who can fit the terms of this specific appointment opening. They must be senators representing a state Senate district within either the 1st or 3rd Congressional District, neither of which are currently represented. Those state senators are Joan Bray (S-24, CD-1 & 3), Maida Coleman (S-5, CD-1 & 3), Rita Heard Days (S-14, CD-1 & 3), Tim Green (S-13, CD-1), Harry Kennedy (S-1, CD-3), Ryan Mckenna (S-22, CD-3) and Jeff Smith (S-4, CD-1 & 3).
It is very doubtful that any of these legislators would sponsor the pro-voucher appointee Donayle Whitmore-Smith.
It’s been said that the alternative to Whitmore-Smith would be worse and probably include a candidate who believes in creation science being taught in public education. That’s merely a scare tactic. None of these Democratic senators are supporters of creation science being taught in public schools. In fact, five of the seven current members of the Missouri Board of Education have all taken the position against allowing creationism to be taught in public schools.
Governor Matt Blunt and Chief of Staff Ed Martin were simply manipulating an opportunity (and an inexperienced politician, in Smith) to try to get an aggressively pro-voucher candidate on the Missouri Board of Education.