November Election - Candidates for State Board of Education

(AP) - Information on candidates running in November's general election for two openings on the State Board of Education. The top two vote-getters will serve eight-year terms.

NAME: Karen Adams
AGE: 51 (Born 5-15-57)
RESIDENCE: Lake Odessa
PARTY: U.S. Taxpayers
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in religious education,Reformed Bible College (now Kuyper College), 1982.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Homemaker.
POLITICAL CAREER: Ran unsuccessfully for University of Michigan Board of Regents in 2004, 2006.
PERSONAL: Married to Phillip; seven children.
WEB SITE: http://ustaxpayerspartyofmichigan.com/state.shtml

***NAME: John Austin
AGE: 46 (Born 4-5-62)
RESIDENCE: Ann Arbor
PARTY: Democratic
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science and economics, Swarthmore College, 1983; master's degree in public administration, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, 1990.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Director of New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, 2008-present; nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution, 2005-present; senior policy adviser, Public Policy Associates, 1995-2004.
POLITICAL CAREER: Elected to State Board of Education in 2000; assistant chairman, Michigan Democratic Party,2000-present; member, Genesee County Road Commission,1996-present; Fenton Planning Commission, 1995-97.
PERSONAL: Married to Terese; three children.
WEB SITE: http://austinforstateboard.com/index.php

NAME: Gail M. Graeser
AGE: 61 (Born 1-3-47)
RESIDENCE: FremontPARTY: U.S. Taxpayers
EDUCATION: Associate's degree in medical secretary and transcription, Jordan College, 1990.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Medical office manager, 1979-present.
POLITICAL CAREER: Ran unsuccessfully for State Board of Education in 2006.
PERSONAL: Married to Ronald; three children.
WEB SITE: http://ustaxpayerspartyofmichigan.com/state.shtml

NAME: Bill Hall
AGE: 52 (Born 7-13-56)
RESIDENCE: Courtland Township, Kent County
PARTY: Libertarian
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in liberal arts, Wabash College, 1978; law degree, Northwestern University School of Law, 1981.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Private law practice, 1981-present.
POLITICAL CAREER: Ran unsuccessfully for Michigan State University Board of Trustees in 2004; ran unsuccessfully for University of Michigan Board of Regents in 1996, 1998 and 2002; ran unsuccessfully for Kent County Board of Commissioners in 2000.
PERSONAL: Married to Vicki; two children.
WEB SITE: http://billhall.lpwm.org

***NAME: Scott Jenkins
AGE: 41 (Born 10-10-66)
RESIDENCE: Williamston
PARTY: Republican
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science,University of Central Florida, 1989.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Education policy consultant,2007-present; sold software applications to state and federal governments, 2004-07; deputy assistant secretary,U.S. Department of Education, 2002-04.
POLITICAL CAREER: Chesaning Township (Saginaw County) Board of Trustees, 2000-02; nonvoting adviser, State Board of Education, 1999-2002.
PERSONAL: Married to Sue; two children.
WEB SITE: http://www.jenkinsforeducation.com

NAME: Dwain Reynolds III
AGE: 21 (Born 10-8-86)
RESIDENCE: Middleville
PARTY: Green
EDUCATION: Attended Kellogg Community College, 2004-05;attends Western Michigan University majoring in secondary education, 2005-present.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Day care teacher, 2007-present;assistant, Grandville Auto and Finance, 2007.
POLITICAL CAREER: Has not previously held public office.
PERSONAL: Single.
WEB SITE: http://www.DReynolds2008.org

NAME: Jeff A. Steinport
AGE: 29 (Born 5-20-79)
RESIDENCE: Grand Rapids
PARTY: Libertarian
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in business administration,Ferris State University, 2005; attends Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2008-present.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Technology director, Advantage Sales and Marketing LLC, 1999-present.
POLITICAL CAREER: Grand Rapids Board of Education, 2001-04.
PERSONAL: Single.WEB SITE: http://www.jeffsteinport.com

NAME: Kathleen Straus
AGE 84 (Born 12-3-23)
RESIDENCE: Detroit
PARTY: Democratic
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in economics, Hunter College, 1944.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Center for Creative Studies president,1986-91; Michigan Association of School Boards director of government relations, 1979-86; Michigan Senate Education Committee staff director, 1976-79.
POLITICAL CAREER: Elected to the State Board of Education in 1992 and 2000; board president, 1997, 2001-present; State Board for Public Junior and Community Colleges, 1983-92.
PERSONAL: Widowed; two children.
WEB SITE: N/A

NAME: Richard Zeile
AGE: 53 (Born 3-12-55)
RESIDENCE: Detroit
PARTY: Republican
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in history and humanities from Valparaiso University, 1977; master's degree in theological studies, Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University, 1984; master's degree in education,University of Michigan, 1980; master's of divinity degree, Concordia Theological Seminary, 1986; doctorate of ministry, Detroit Ecumenical Theological Seminary, 2006.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Pastor and headmaster, St. Johns Lutheran Church and School, Taylor, 2001-present; chaplain resident at Detroit Sinai Grace Hospital, 2001; pastor and principal at Redford Lutheran Church and Zurstadt Lutheran School, Detroit, 1993-2001.
POLITICAL CAREER: Has not previously held public office.
PERSONAL: Married to Barbara; four children.
WEB SITE: http://drzeile.net

*** = Highly regarded.