http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rob_elected_super_is_democracy_run_amok Comments for "Rob: Elected super is democracy run amok" en http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rob_elected_super_is_democracy_run_amok <!-- Begin check for Blog Icon --> <!-- End check for Blog Icon --> <!-- Begin check for Teaser Toggle --> <div class="field-item"> <p>Rob Christensen says electing the schools superintendent is &quot;democracy run amok.&quot;</p><p>In a 2000 column, the longtime N&amp;O reporter wrote that North Carolina and North Dakota have the longest ballots in the country, electing a number of positions that are appointed in other states.</p><p>He argued that there are good reasons to elect the secretary of state, <a href="/under_the_dome/faq/what_does_the_lieutenant_governor_do">lieutenant governor</a> and state auditor, but not the agriculture, labor and insurance commissioners or the superintendent of public instruction. Those positions, he said, should be appointed. </p> <blockquote> <p>The only reason why the long ballot has worked traditionally is that governors and other party leaders handpicked <a href="/faq/who_is_on_the_council_of_state">Council of State</a> candidates—often when an incumbent died. The party leaders knew who had the smarts and character for the job and who didn&#39;t. </p> </blockquote> <p>He noted that the <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/">Brookings Institution</a> recommended making the positions appointed in the 1930s, but Democratic state officials balked.</p><p>The full column after the jump.</p> <div class="node-blog-teaser-footer"> <div class="node-blog-teaser-readmore"> <a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rob_elected_super_is_democracy_run_amok"><img src="http://projects.newsobserver.com/sites/8830.newsobserver-drupal-projects.apps.prod.nandomedia.com/themes/nao/images/dome_read_more.gif" width="74" height="23" border="0" /></a></div> <div class="node-blog-teaser-comments">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rob_elected_super_is_democracy_run_amok#comment"><img src="http://www.newsobserver.com/images/front_new/icon_discussion.gif" width="11" height="7" border="0" /> Comments (0)</a> <!-- If permissions, display edit link at end of teaser --> <!-- End edit link code --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- End check for Teaser Toggle --> <!-- BEGIN AUDIO ATTACHMENT CODE --> http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rob_elected_super_is_democracy_run_amok#comment Brookings Institution council of state Rob Christensen Superintendent of Public Instruction Under the Dome Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:36:52 -0500 ryanteaguebeckwith 4503 at http://projects.newsobserver.com