SBE chair Lundeen to run for state House

Paul Lundeen, chair of the State Board of Education, announced Monday that he will run for a seat in the state House next year.

A Republican, Lundeen made the announcement in Monument, which is in House District 19. The current Republican incumbent, Rep. Amy Stephens, is term-limited after next year.

Stephens endorsed Lundeen, as did El Paso County Commissioner Peggy Littleton, his predecessor on the State Board.

In a statement, Lundeen said he wants to “take our fight for liberty and prosperity, through education reform and a smaller constitutional government, across the street from the State Board room to the legislature.”

Lundeen was elected to the State Board in 2010 and was chosen as chair in January 2013. He’s been an advocate of school choice, reforms in school finance and a greater role for the board in policymaking. (That last issue has been somewhat frustrating for both GOP and Democratic board members in recent years as education change has been driven primarily by the legislature.)

Lundeen said his campaign slogan will be “Smaller government. Bigger people.”

State law forbids legislators from holding other elected offices, so Lundeen would have to resign from the board if he wins the GOP nomination and the general election next year.

At least two additional members will be leaving the board after next year. Marcia Neal, a Grand Junction Republican who represents the 3rd Congressional District, has announced she won’t seek re-election in 2014. Democrat Elaine Gantz Berman of Denver isn’t running for reelection in the first district. The 7th District seat held by Democrat Jane Goff of Arvada also will be on the ballot.

This story was expanded Oct. 2 to provide updated information about Berman.