Education professor looking into state superintendent race in 2010 (PolitickerCA)

By Ben van der Meer
PolitickerCA
July 21, 2008

An education professor in Sacramento has submitted a statement of intent to run for California's top education post in 2010.

A statement of intent to run for Francisco Reveles, a professor of educational leadership at California State University, Sacramento, was posted online within the last few days.

Reveles is apparently a newcomer to elective politics, though a web search shows he has spoken at several education conferences on the West Coast.

A message left at his work office was not immediately returned.

If Reveles chooses to run, he'll be up against some well-known Sacramento stalwarts. The current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell, is termed out in 2010 and is believed to be considering a run for governor.

The California Secretary of State's Web site also lists state Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) and State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles) have intentions of running for superintendent in 2010, along with Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach).

All three face limits in 2010 or sooner in their current roles, and Torlakson has already established a web site for his superintendent campaign.

There is also a listing for former State Senate Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), but most believe that account is being kept open strictly for fundraising purposes, as Burton has not been a visible presence in Sacramento since he was termed out in 2004.

The post is officially non-partisan, but most officeholders have been well-known Democrats or Republicans.

No Republicans are listed as potential candidates for the superintendent post in 2010.