Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction (DPI) John Humphries has been trying to convince people he's a conservative reformer. Yet he signed the recall petition against Gov. Walker (see below) and is on record as supporting Common Core, and against Vukmir reform bill in 2014. Also, according to Mark Belling Show, his staff confirms he voted for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, and Mary Burke in the gubernatorial election (start at 3:03) : http://newstalk1130.iheart.com/media/play/27587786/
He goes further in this recent forum w/his opponent, Dr. Lowell Holtz (see bottom for blog for info on Dr. Holtz), and admits he voted for far-left progressive dem, Marc Pocan and Russ Feingold. If this guy is a conservative, I'll eat my shoe. Relevant segment starts at 54:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ipXxD0uio&feature=youtu.be.
He's vague on what he thinks NOW about Common Core: https://www.humphriesforschools.org/platform/
Yet, he was hardly vague when he wrote a defense of Common Core in official public testimony during the debate over Sen. Leah Vukmir's Common Core "repeal" legislation (SB619). From page 163 of this public records document: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/hearing_testimony_and_materials/2013/sb619/sb0619_2014_03_06.pdf
Here are screen shots of the letter:
He also admits he signed the recall petition against Gov. Scott Walker, but claims it was because he was worried about "division" in the state. Of course, the division was exacerbated greatly after the Teachers Union sponsored recall campaign. http://watchdog.org/281923/act-10-john-humphries-superintendent/
ONLY now, after having his official and enthusiastic support for Common Core exposed (even Tony Evers noticed! http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/0202evers.pdf) does Humphries say he's against Common Core and in favor of the model WI academic standards he testified AGAINST. This is one of those things we file under the tab "Hmmm!"
But WAIT, there's more. A story out 2/16/17 based on allegations made by Humphries that he and Holtz sat down to horse trade this race STRONGLY suggest that Humphries' entire role is premised on taking out Holtz to clear a path for Evers. Otherwise, we must accept he is really dumb enough to think that he didn't tube HIMSELF in his efforts to tube Lowell Holtz. See the article here: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/state-superintendent-candidate-challenger-offered--figure-job-to-drop/article_aec077a8-3bba-5b0a-b272-6dbb582c3d03.html
As you would expect, Evers and his sycophants in the media are having a veritable FIELD DAY with this story: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-alleged-job-offer-to-take-over-school-districts/article_2e4d4670-0c6f-5e68-a4d3-fb81c29c1fc9.html
As for Holtz, words fail to describe the level of naviate and stupidity in taking a meeting w/another primary contender to horse trade the race. It's not illegal, it's just stupid.
Then there's this blast from the past hammering Holtz right now for letting a pro-Obama film crew into his school--which begs the question: what WAS he thinking? http://www.beloitdailynews.com/archive/article-d7104def-75c6-5c00-9ea1-6e1c827ba5f6.html
I'm not too bothered by the video story, myself. Plenty of Republicans I know tried to really "believe" that Obama wasn't the faculty lounge lefist you and I knew him to be. They sincerely hoped that electing the first black President would usher in a new dawning of freedom and inclusion in America. Suckers, yes...but they really did WANT to believe. I don't necessarily hold it against them. I am mostly bothered Holtz didn't police the videographers so they didn't expose the identities of any kids in the process. The reprimand for Holtz seemed entirely appropriate.
In the end what this does, I think, is tip the scales heavily in favor of Evers (which could be Humphries' intention anyway). I hope all the Republicans who signed on to endorse Humphries understand that their support of a liberal fake Republican just makes them look like morons. As for Holtz's endorsers (see here: http://www.kidservative.com), I'm sure they just feel embarassed by the latest story. But at least Holtz actually IS conservative. So we got that going for us. Which is nice? (/sarcasm)
Sigh.