State: Education candidate accepts limits

Education candidate accepts limits

If elected, Democrat George Sheldon would have to work with Republicans in an abbreviated term.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY

ST. PETERSBURG -- If he gets the education commissioner's job, George Sheldon likely would find himself implementing education reforms he disagrees with.

Sheldon, a Democrat and an outspoken critic of Florida's A+

Education Plan, would have to work with a Republican governor and Legislature that have made that plan the cornerstone of school accountability. And if elected, Sheldon would hold the job for only two years, before the position is eliminated as an elected post.

Despite those job hazards, Sheldon says he thinks he could devote two productive years to improving Florida's schools. He thinks he can help make school accountability better, and perhaps win lawmakers over to a few of his ideas.

"I think I could use the bully pulpit to bring some sense back to the education debate," said Sheldon, one of two Democratic candidates running for Florida education commissioner. Sheldon faces state Rep. James Bush of Miami in the Democratic primary. Former state Sen. Charlie Crist is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Sheldon, who served in the Florida House from 1974 to 1982, said he served during the "Golden Age of the Legislature when Democrats and Republicans could work together."

"I believe (Gov. Jeb) Bush and (Lt. Gov. Frank) Brogan want to do positive things for education," Sheldon said of the Republicans who spearheaded the state's A+

Education Plan. "I have a lot of respect for Frank Brogan. But ... Charlie Crist is no Frank Brogan."

Speaking before the Times editorial board Monday, Sheldon said he would would release detailed position papers during the campaign, spelling out specific proposals and the costs involved. The first, expected in the next couple of weeks, is a proposal for "universal access to preschool" for Florida's 4-year-olds. He envisions a program modeled after one in Georgia.

In the coming weeks, Sheldon said, he will offer detailed proposals for accomplishing some of his other priorities such as reducing class size in early grades. He hopes lawmakers of both parties can embrace such programs.

"It's difficult to argue against preschool for 4-year-olds," Sheldon said. "If we can't do preschool for 4-year-olds, I'll be damned if I know what we can do."

Sheldon has been meeting each Sunday with educators to get opinions and new perspectives on education issues. This past Sunday he conferred with William Katzenmeyer, former dean of the University of South Florida College of Education.

Sheldon's goal in putting out detailed position papers is to stimulate debate on what he thinks are key issues, and to let the voters and lawmakers know where he stands.

"The Democrats' problem is we haven't had a positive agenda," Sheldon said. He intends to offer up alternatives for discussion. "I think that's what campaigns ought to be about. So we're not just saying we're against the A+

Plan."