Scratch beneath the surface of the State Board of Education races and a controversial word reappears: Evolution.

In 1999, a conservative majority on the board made international news by de-emphasizing evolution in public school science standards.

The conservative majority was overturned in the 2000 election and in 2001, the new board put evolution back in the standards.

Now a year later, evolution again is being debated in the races for Board of Education in the Aug. 6 primary.

If conservatives gain the upper hand again, will evolution survive?

Jim Mullins of Lawrence, president of the Kansas Republican Assembly, which represents the conservative wing of the GOP, said he was more interested in other issues. But he added, “There are people in our group where (removing evolution) would be a big deal.”

The group has endorsed conservative Republicans in four primary races, including two challengers to GOP incumbents.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Caroline McKnight, executive director of the MAINstream Coalition, which battles conservatives on several fronts, said she had no doubt that if the conservatives regain a majority, evolution would be out.

“Our position is to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she said.

MAINstream has endorsed candidates in three GOP primary battles, including one challenger to an incumbent and a candidate in the only Democratic Party primary race.

The contenders

There are 10 members on the board; half of the seats are up for election every two years.

Here are the primary races:

1st District  Incumbent Democrat Janet Waugh of Kansas City, who supported evolution in the state standards, faces a primary challenge from Hershel Martin, also of Kansas City. Martin said he was not in favor of teaching evolution, but said it wasn’t a major issue with him. Waugh has been endorsed by MAINstream. There is no Republican candidate in the district, which includes eastern Douglas County and all of Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Jefferson counties.

3rd District  Incumbent Republican John Bacon of Olathe has drawn a primary challenge from Forrest Weddle of Olathe. Bacon voted to de-emphasize evolution and has been endorsed by the Kansas Republican Assembly. Weddle is MAINstream’s pick. The winner takes a seat on the board because there is no Democratic challenger in November.

5th District  Incumbent I.B. “Sonny” Rundell of Syracuse faces Connie Morris of St. Francis in the GOP primary for this vast western Kansas district. Rundell supports evolution in the standards and has won MAINstream’s endorsement. Morris has been endorsed by the Kansas Republican Assembly. No Democratic challenger awaits the winner.

7th District  Two Republicans  Sam Kepfield and Kenneth Willard, both of Hutchinson  are battling for an open seat. Willard has the Kansas Republican Assembly’s endorsement. MAINstream has made no endorsement. The winner faces Democrat L. Duane Anstine of Hutchinson in November.

9th District  Incumbent Republican Val DeFever of Independence faces Iris Van Meter of Thayer. DeFever voted for evolution and is backed by MAINstream, while Van Meter is backed by Kansas Republican Assembly. There is no Democratic challenger in the race.

No ‘yokels,’ please

Kansas University professor Leonard Krishtalka, director of the KU Museum of Natural History, was a vocal supporter of evolution in the standards during the board’s debates. He said he was confident Kansas voters would preserve an evolution-supporting majority on the board.

“We need to have a top-notch science curriculum and we need to keep these yokels out of office. Most people are incredulous that this is still an issue,” Krishtalka said.

Mullins, head of the Kansas Republican Assembly, said conservatives were less concerned with evolution than with getting people on the board who stand for returning education to basics, teaching character and being open to differing opinions. It is the pro-evolution folks who are obsessed with the subject, he said.

“They’ve wasted too much time in running to get people elected on the other side that are for the evolution thing rather than looking for what is the best in education for our children,” he said.

But Rundell, one of the incumbent Republicans who supports keeping evolution in the science standards, said it was the anti-evolution folks who keep bringing up the issue. “We need to move on to other things,” Rundell said.

His opponent, Morris, said if elected she would submit to the board a recommendation to teach evolution alongside other origin of life theories, such as creationism.

Other priorities

But, Morris said, saving money in the school system and keeping the lid on taxes were her main concerns. She said U.S. taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill to educate the children of illegal immigrants from Mexico.

“I have really searched my heart and God doesn’t condone thievery. I know they are precious little people. I love God’s people, but I can’t afford it,” she said.

Morris has taught first grade for the past six years in the town of Idalia, Colo., which is about 37 miles west of her hometown of St. Francis. She said she recently resigned from teaching because she was going on a national tour to tout her autobiography about her recovery through Jesus Christ from rape, incest, and drug and alcohol abuse.

She also serves on the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, which regulates psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. She was appointed by Gov. Bill Graves.

In a race in southeast Kansas, Lauren Van Meter, the daughter of the conservative candidate, Iris Van Meter, said evolution has not been part of her mother’s campaign. Lauren Van Meter said her mother wants to focus on getting more administrative expenses back into the classroom, and giving local school districts more control.

Getting rid of the evolution in science standards “has not been part of her platform,” she said.