Gov. Chris Gregoire is making it clear today that she wants to eliminate the Superintendent of Public Instruction as a statewide elected position.
A bill to put the question before voters in November is getting introduced today at her request by House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan.
Specifically, House Joint Resolution 4220 asks voters to amend the state constitution to eliminate the superintendent of public instruction as an elected office.
Gregoire has openly supported going to voters and had endorsed a Senate bill aimed at doing so. But with that bill authored by Sen. Rodney Tom apparently stalled, Gregoire is taking the initiative to start the effort in the House.
Gregoire placed the fate of the office held by Superintendent Randy Dorn on the front burner this session with her plan for a new Department of Education. It calls for Dorn to serve under a governor appointed secretary of education — unless voters eliminate his job.
Interestingly, her legislation arrives on the same day the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee is expected to advance her proposal for the department.
The Senate committee will take up Senate Bill 5639 in its 8 a.m. meeting.
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