Diane Douglas

Diane Douglas is an American politician who served as Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2015 to 2019. She was elected on November 4, 2014, edging out her Democratic opponent, David Garcia, by one percentage point.[1]

Diane Douglas
21st Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 7, 2019
GovernorDoug Ducey
Preceded byJohn Huppenthal
Succeeded byKathy Hoffman
Personal details
BornPlainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationRaritan Valley Community College
Rutgers University (BA)

Douglas succeeded John Huppenthal, whom she defeated for the party's nomination in the Republican primary on August 26, 2014. Immediately after her election, Douglas faced a recall effort by voters who claimed that she was not qualified for the position.[2] In 2018, Douglas removed evolution from the Arizona state education standards.[3]

Early career and education

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Douglas earned an Associate degree in business from Somerset County College and a Bachelor of Arts in business and marketing from Rutgers University.[4]

Career

Prior to serving as Superintendent of Public Instruction, Douglas worked in accounting and financial analysis for several firms. She has also spoken at conferences sponsored by AZ Right to Life and Americans for Prosperity.

Douglas was the subject of a recall effort while serving on the Peoria Unified School District board in 2010 due to a conflict of interest. Douglas was also serving as the treasurer of the axthetax.com coalition, which was opposed to a temporary one cent Arizona sales tax to fund education. Douglas lost to Gary Sherwood in 2012 for the Sahuaro District of the Glendale, Arizona City Council by 330 votes.[5]

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Douglas was elected as the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014. She was subsequently sworn into office on January 5, 2015, succeeding John Huppenthal, who lost in the Republican primary on August 26, 2014.[6][7]

In her first year in office, a recall effort failed to gather enough signatures to make the ballot.[8] However, as of August 2016, Douglas's approval rating was just 16 percent.[9] In the 2018 elections, Douglas lost her re-election bid in the Republican party primary despite being the incumbent, finishing third in a closely contested race in which the top four candidates all received approximately 20% to 22% of the vote.[10] She was eventually succeeded by Democrat Kathy Hoffman.

Electoral history
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diane Douglas 290,719 58.44
Republican John Huppenthal (inc.) 206,744 41.56
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diane Douglas 740,273 50.55
Democratic David Garcia 724,239 49.45
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican Primary Election, 2018[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Riggs 124,872 21.82
Republican Bob Branch 124,643 21.80
Republican Diane Douglas (inc.) 121,452 21.22
Republican Tracy Livingston 115,778 20.23
Republican Jonathan Gelbart 85,511 14.94

References
  1. "Douglas wins Arizona schools superintendent race".
  2. FOX. "Effort continues to recall Diane Douglas".
  3. "Arizona state education standards see evolution deleted".
  4. "Candidate for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas". 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  5. Javier, Jeffrey (30 March 2010). "Peoria Unified board member accused of dual loyalties". The Arizona Republic.
  6. "AZ Supt. of Public Instruction: Douglas wins top post, Garcia concedes".
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2015-12-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Chairman: Effort to recall Superintendent Diane Douglas fails".
  9. "Poll: Arizona schools chief Diane Douglas' approval rating remains at only 16 percent".
  10. "State of Arizona Official Canvass" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State.
Political offices
Preceded by
John Huppenthal		 Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
2015–2019		 Succeeded by
Kathy Hoffman
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