The Lindon incumbent will mount a write-in campaign to keep his District 12 seat on the board after a newly formed advisory committee declined last week to endorse him.

Anderson's decision demonstrates his defiance, not only against the committee's recommendations, but also the 2004 legislation that changed the way state school board candidates are nominated and placed on the ballot.

"If it weren't for my wife's insistence, I probably would not be doing this," he said Friday. "But something needs to be done here. I'd like to see some reform. Why not turn it back to the people to decide who they want on the ballot?"

Passed earlier this year, Senate Bill 185 established a 12-member committee to recruit and nominate state board candidates with diverse talents, philosophies and professional backgrounds.

This committee also is required to narrow the field of candidates to at least three per district. The governor then selects two names to place on the ballot for each district. (The state school board is divided into 15 districts, of which seven are up for election this year.)

Last month, the committee passed over Anderson, even though he earned 68 percent of his district's vote in 2000 and has the business expertise legislators sought when they passed SB185. He has been a banker and currently owns a West Jordan galvanizing company.

As mandated by the new legislation, Gov. Olene Walker appointed the committee members - six from education and six from business. But three committee members representing education were absent the day the committee settled on its candidate recommendations, giving the business representatives greater clout.

However, those business representatives say the process accomplished what the Legislature intended.

"Generally we were looking at the best candidates to bring a more balanced state school board," said David Creer, a committee member who represented business interests as executive director of the Utah Trucking Association.

Nonetheless, many parents and educators have challenged whether the system is fair, let alone democratic.

State school board Chairman Kim Burningham called on legislators to amend the law.

"While we make no judgments [about] the announced finalists, it appears those 2004 candidates have been chosen by a process that ignores the public will and relies upon determination by special interests," Burningham said during a Friday board meeting.

By all accounts, Anderson's chances of retaining his seat are slim.

Write-in campaigns are always difficult, according to Dan Jones, interim associate director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. "It's done in very small communities where the names are well known and it's highly controversial. This [situation] could be controversial enough that it helps voter turnout. Still, less than 10 percent of people can tell me the name of their school board member."

Anderson is under no illusions.

"If I win, it'll be a miracle. I've got to talk 20,000 people into writing in my name."

rlynn@sltrib.com

Off to the races

* State board of education candidates who will run contested races this fall are:

* District 1: Theresa Theurer (incumbent), Phillip Geary

* District 7: John Pingree (incumbent) and Jonathan George

Jemming

* District 8: Janet Cannon (incumbent), Quentin Thomas Wells

* District 11: Bill Colbert, Mark

Towner

* District 12: Mark Cluff, David

Adamic

* District 13: Brian Woodfield, Thomas Gregory

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