AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — In a story Nov. 7 about the Texas State Board of Education race for District 2, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Republican Laurie Turner defeated Democrat Ruben Cortez Jr. Cortez defeated Turner.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Democrat Cortez wins spot on education board
Democrat Cortez wins spot on State Board of Education representing part of South Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democrat Ruben Cortez Jr. has won a spot of the State Board of Education representing part of South Texas.
The Brownsville businessman defeated Republican Laurie Turner, a middle school teacher, for the District 2 seat formerly held by Democrat Mary Helen Berlanga, who did not run again after 30 years on the board.
All 15 board spots were up for re-election following redistricting. The board's responsibilities include establishing the state's public school curriculum, approving textbooks and managing the state's permanent school fund.
Cortez, a partner in a management firm, says on his website that he advocates keeping politics out of the classroom and says "decreeing that a conservative agenda be taught to our children" is not the role of the board.
