Davis, Smith Compete for School Board

Candidates clash over new superintendent, public funding for private, religious schools

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Mar 18, 2013 at 7:06 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 20, 2013 at 6:03 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Two failed candidates in last year's state Senate races are now facing each other for a seat on the school board.

Incumbent school board member Don Smith has been serving in a variety of government positions for decades.

"I'm the father of the tax cap, 30 years ago. I wrote the language that is in the charter today, which has saved all of us in this room thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars of tax that would have been paid had it not been for the lid that was placed."

Bettye Davis has been around for decades, as well, most recently leaving the Senate after 12 years.

She said in her case, it's not only experience that matters, but also demographics.

"You have 50,000 students in the Anchorage School District, almost. Out of those 50,000 students, I think they deserve to have someone to represent them other than all Caucasians."

Smith and Davis differ on a proposed amendment to the state constitution to permit public funding of private and religious schools.

Davis is an adamant opponent, while Smith offers qualified support.

"If there were no religious instruction being given in a Baptist school or a Catholic school, it was strictly education, those children, I think, have every right to have those dollars that are spent in the public system be spent on their education. So I’m not opposed to it, but it has to be clearly defined, I think."

Davis faults the school board for its swift permanent appointment of Ed Graff as the new superintendent, following Jim Browder's surprise retirement.

"I felt that once they got together like that that they really should have put somebody in that position but it should have been appointed as acting and not as the superintendent."

For school board Seat A, voters will do the grading on April 2.

In November, Smith was defeated for a Midtown Senate seat by then-Representative Berta Gardner, and Davis lost her race in East Anchorage and Eagle River to then-Representative Anna Fairclough.

To view all of the candidates in the April 2 municipal election, click here.

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Marcia G. EHS class of '63 said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 10:45 AM

Ms. Davis is wrong about the ethnic make-up of the board; she is also wrong when she encourages a pre-K program because not all board members are Western Culture and the District doesn't have the funds to start an area-wide Pre-K program. Don Smith appears to be more current on the educational issues and budget restraints.

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so said on Tuesday, Mar 19 at 5:58 PM

How do rid Alaska of Davis? What an offensive racist thing she said.

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