On the same day the Kansas State Board of Education approved new science standards criticizing evolution, voters in Dover, Pa., swept out eight conservative school board members who had mandated the teaching of intelligent design there.

“Candidates have been campaigning and getting their message out since before the primary,” said Victoria Reiber, chairwoman of the Dover CARES campaign that pushed pro-evolution members onto the local school board after the issue went to federal court. “It was just a grassroots effort – making people aware of the facts.”

Dover voters made their choices Tuesday, the same day the Kansas state school board took its action.

An effort similar to Dover’s drive to unseat board members may be taking shape in Kansas.

A billboard with the opponents to the current Dover Area School Board is seen Tuesday above Main Street in Dover, Pa. Voters swept out the conservative members of the board.

“We were following the Dover elections and the case, as well, pretty closely,” said Kathy Cook of Kansas Families United for Public Education. “I think you’re going to see a coalition of organizations come together to change the makeup of the (Kansas) board in the next year.”

Conservatives who dominate the board seemed unconcerned Wednesday about the political fallout in Kansas.

“Pennsylvania and Kansas are different,” board Chairman Steve Abrams said Wednesday.

But recent Kansas history suggests conservatives could face a challenge during the next board election, in 2006.

Different reaction?

The last time the Kansas Board of Education tinkered with evolution, removing the matter from science standards entirely in 1999, two conservatives lost their seats during the primary elections. That shifted control of the board back to moderates, who reshaped the standards to reflect a more traditional scientific view.

Four of the five board seats up for election next year are held by conservatives who voted for the new standards. Three of those incumbents – John Bacon of Olathe, Connie Morris of St. Francis and Iris Van Meter of Thayer – already have challengers.

But conservatives are betting that the new standards, which don’t “ban” evolution, but critique the theory, won’t provoke the same reaction.

“What actually did happen was so innocuous,” said Judy Smith, Kansas director of Concerned Women for America, which supported the new standards. “It just allows for academic freedom for teachers, instead of dogma in science.”

Asked whether she worried about a reversal at the polls, Smith said: “Do I worry about it? Yeah, I guess as much as I worry about anything else in an election.”

Leaders of Kansas political parties on Wednesday downplayed the 2006 board races, with both Republicans and Democrats saying they want to win those campaigns – but are more focused on statewide and congressional elections.

Not just evolution

Derrick Sontag, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, noted that conservative Connie Morris faces a primary challenge from former teacher Sally Cauble, who has criticized the new science standards.

“Connie may not be the nominee,” Sontag said. “If that’s the case, we’ll end up helping the nominee, no matter who it is.”

With religious conservatives making up a large portion of the Kansas electorate, though, Cook said that moderate candidates will have to broaden their appeal and criticize the current board for other reasons – the hiring of antitax activist Bob Corkins as the new education commissioner, for example, and for pushing vouchers while public schools struggle with funding.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily just talking about the intelligent design issue,” Cook said. “I think those will be key issues that will appeal to all voters, regardless of whether you have a religious background or believe in intelligent design.”