Former OK Assistant Superintendent Seeks Superintendent's Job

Former school administrator and assistant state superintendent Jack Herron has kicked off his campaign for the superintendent of public instruction job held by first-term Republican Janet Barresi.

Herron, a Democrat from Norman, launched his campaign Wednesday at the state Capitol. He joins at least three other Democrats and a Republican who have announced plans to seek the education post in 2014.

Herron is a former assistant state superintendent for financial services at the state Department of Education who claims Barresi fired him after she took over in 2011. He has since worked as legislative liaison for the Professional Oklahoma Educators.

"I believe we can do three simple things to start to move education forward in Oklahoma," said Herron. "We have to pay our teachers more, we need to give control of school districts back to their local communities and we need to focus on science and math. I have the broad and unique experience to do that."

Also seeking the Democratic nomination are former Oklahoma Democratic Party chairman Ivan Holmes, Bennington Superintendent Donna Anderson and Peggs Superintendent John Cox. Republican Joy Hofmeister of Tulsa is also running.