Statement from Mick Zais Regarding Runoff Results

Posted on June 22, 2010
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Zais thanks supporters for victory in Republican Runoff

NEWBERRY, SC – Tonight, Mick Zais issued the following statement after winning the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Education.

Zais said, “I am grateful to the thousands of voters who supported my candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent.  This campaign has been focused on improving our schools for students, parents, and teachers by reforming them with common-sense conservative ideas.  I want to thank my fellow Republicans who ran for this office and look forward to incorporating their grassroots activists, donors, and supporters into my campaign.”

Zais continued, “The election this fall gives the voters of South Carolina a choice for change.  My Democratic opponent would maintain the failed, status quo of the past 12 years that has stymied real progress.  He believes the silver bullet to improving education in South Carolina is to raise taxes to grow new government programs.  My Democratic opponent would look to Washington and President Obama for answers when Washington is the source of so many of our problems in education.  The choice this November couldn’t be clearer: a partisan, Washington bureaucrat who will do everything he can to defend the failed status quo, or a conservative reformer with a record of success who will fight for parents, students, and teachers against the establishment.  I look forward to a spirited contest of ideas in the months ahead.”

Zais graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1969 and served 31 years as a paratrooper, Ranger and Brigadier General in the United States Army. He has been a classroom teacher as a faculty member at West Point teaching leadership, management, and organization behavior.  Zais also earned a doctorate in psychology, and for the past 10 years has served as President of Newberry College.  Under Zais, enrollment has nearly doubled, the endowment reached all-time high, new facilities have been constructed and Newberry athletic teams compete for regional and national championships.  For the first time in its history and for the second consecutive year, Newberry College was named one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

Mick Zais has been married to his wife, Susan, for over 30 years. They have two adult children: Bradley, age 25, is a veteran of the Iraq War and Ashley, age 22, is a graduate of Wofford College. Both Bradley and Ashley graduated from Newberry High, a public high school. The Zaises are members of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

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Mick Zais Wins 9th Straw Poll

Posted on June 20, 2010
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Mick Zais won his 9th in-person straw poll of the primary season by winning the Aiken County Republican Party Ice Cream Social  straw poll with 74% of the vote.

The updated “Olympic Medal Count” for Mick’s campaign is 9 gold medals and 4 silver medals. Mick’s 9 victories are more than his  runoff opponent, who has not won a single in-person straw poll.

Mick’s most important “straw poll” win was on June 8th, when Mick received the most votes in the Republican Primary for State Superintendent of Education, outpacing his runoff opponent by more than 28,000 votes. Since that time, Mick has been endorsed by 3 of his Republican primary competitors (Kelly Payne, Gary Burgess and Brent Nelsen), endorsed by the only Republican to ever hold the office of State Superintendent of Education (Dr. Barbara Nielsen) and endorsed by Governor Jim Edwards and Governor David Beasley.

Mick’s straw poll Gold Medals (9 wins): 2010 Silver Elephant Banquet (Statewide), Berkeley County GOP Breakfast Club, Clarendon County GOP, Upstate Young Republicans (Greenville County), Beaufort County GOP, Florence County GOP, Sumter County GOP, Orangeburg County GOP, Aiken County GOP Ice Cream Social

Mick’s straw poll Silver Medals (4): Horry County GOP, Rep. Steve Parker’s BBQ (Spartanburg County), Florence County Republican Women, Myrtle Beach Republican Women

Myrtle Beach Sun News Recommends Mick Zais

Posted on June 19, 2010
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For superintendent, we were extremely impressed with Zais’ credentials, and remain so. His success reforming Newberry College represents a remarkable pivot after an already impressive military career, and his logical platform seems, with one notable exception, a good basis for discussing the future of our schools. Our concern with his enthusiasm for diverting students and money into private schools – an experiment we believe South Carolina can ill afford on the level Zais promotes – ultimately led us to Nelsen, who promoted a more cautious entry into these policies. After missing the runoff, Nelsen endorsed Zais and Zais in turn named Nelsen an unofficial adviser – and in that capacity, we hope he will listen Nelsen’s ideas for expanding school choice without weakening the public school system.

Zais’ runoff opponent, Elizabeth Moffly, commands a knowledge of the school system that is striking in its detail, having run for superintendent four years ago and then served on Jim Rex’s transition committee. In a choice between the two, however, Zais’ leadership experience recommends him well for the nomination on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/19/1541112/the-case-for-experience.html#ixzz0rIyZFNzU

Republican Primary Competitors Endorse Mick Zais

Posted on June 17, 2010
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Mick Zais Gains Endorsements From Kelly Payne, Gary Burgess and Brent Nelsen

NEWBERRY, SC – Today, Mick Zais announced endorsements from three of his competitors for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Education: Kelly Payne, Gary Burgess and Brent Nelsen. Each will serve as a volunteer, unpaid senior advisor to the Mick Zais for Education campaign.

Mick Zais said, “I am grateful for the endorsements of Kelly, Gary and Brent. They are solid conservatives who believe reforming education is crucial to strengthening our economy and creating jobs. Kelly, Gary and Brent bring individual expertise that will make them invaluable assets to our campaign team. Working together, we will bring change to the South Carolina Department of Education this November for the benefit of the students, parents, teachers and taxpayers.”

Ms. Kelly Payne said, “My campaign was focused on putting kids first by transforming education through achievement. Today I am endorsing Mick Zais because he shares my views on the issues that matter most to parents and teachers. He shares my views on issues such as streamlining the outdated funding formula, cutting the bloated bureaucracy, increasing the transparency of school spending, and focusing on the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic in the primary years. As a public school teacher, I strongly believe teachers need a seat at the table when policy decisions are made in Columbia. That is why I am urging all of my supporters to vote for Mick Zais because he shares my views on the issues and he will be an advocate for our teachers, our parents, and most importantly, our kids.”

Dr. Gary Burgess, Sr. said, “There is no substitute for real world experience, which is why I am endorsing Mick Zais for State Superintendent of Education. His experience as a teacher and college president have prepared him to take on the education establishment that exists to protect the current system and not act in the best interests of our students and teachers. As a teacher, principal, and district superintendent, my focus was always on student learning. I ask all of my supporters to join me in voting for Mick Zais because he has the experience to change the system to focus on student learning.”

Dr. Brent Nelsen said, “I am endorsing Mick Zais today because I believe he has the leadership ability to turnaround our schools and prepare South Carolina’s students for the jobs of the 21st Century economy. He will empower parents with more choices, empower teachers by deregulating classrooms, and empower businesses, churches, and individuals to take ownership of education in their communities. We must act now to reform our schools, and I ask all of my supporters to join me in voting for the candidate who is prepared to lead on day one – Mick Zais.”

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Dr. Barbara Nielsen Endorses Mick Zais

Posted on June 14, 2010
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Only Republican State Superintendent in South Carolina history supports Mick Zais

NEWBERRY, SC – Today, Mick Zais announced the endorsement of Dr. Barbara Nielsen for his candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Education.

Dr. Nielsen said, “I am proud to support the candidacy of Mick Zais for State Superintendent of Education. In addition to his proven track record of success at Newberry College, Mick has the comprehensive experience in education and strong leadership ability to lead the turnaround that is desperately needed at the South Carolina Department of Education. Mick Zais will bring real change to education, and I urge all Republicans to cast their votes for him in the Republican Runoff Election on June 22.”

Dr. Barbara S. Nielsen served two four-year terms as South Carolina State Superintendent of Education. She is the only Republican to ever be elected State Superintendent. Nielsen coordinated the development and passage of key legislation on education reform, including the Education Accountability Act of 1998, and helped establish the first statewide full-day kindergarten program in South Carolina. She also helped develop and pass legislation creating South Carolina’s first charter schools. Before serving as superintendent, Nielsen worked for 30 years in education as a teacher, an administrator, and an educational consultant. Nielsen is a graduate of the University of Dayton and received a doctorate degree in educational administration and planning from the University of Louisville.

Mick Zais added, “I am grateful for Dr. Nielsen’s endorsement and I welcome her to my campaign team. She is extremely well-respected by parents, teachers, and administrators throughout South Carolina. Dr. Nielsen’s tenure as State Superintendent was marked by significant education reforms, including the passage of charter school legislation. She is a proven leader in education reform and her experience will be a valuable resource to this campaign.”

Zais graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1969 and served 31 years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, Ranger and retired as Brigadier General. He was a classroom teacher for three years as a faculty member at West Point teaching leadership, management, and organization behavior.  Zais also earned a doctorate in psychology, and for the past 10 years has served as President of Newberry College.  Under Zais, enrollment has nearly doubled, the endowment reached all-time high, new facilities have been constructed and Newberry athletic teams compete for regional and national championships.  For the first time in its history and for the second consecutive year, Newberry College was named one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

Mick Zais has been married to his wife, Susan, for over 30 years. They have two adult children: Bradley, age 25, is a veteran of the Iraq War and Ashley, age 23, is a graduate of Wofford College. Both Bradley and Ashley graduated from Newberry High, a public high school. The Zaises are members of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

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Spartanburg TEA Party Endorses Mick Zais

Posted on June 13, 2010
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The Spartanburg Tea Party has endorsed Mick Zais for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Education. This is the third TEA Party organization to endorse Mick’s campaign, joining the Laurens County TEA Party and Aiken County TEA Party.

Post & Courier: 2 in schools runoff vastly different

Posted on June 11, 2010
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Voters will choose from two vastly different Republican candidates in the runoff election for the state’s top schools job.

Mick Zais, the top vote-getter in the state superintendent of education race, is a retired Army brigadier general and president of Newberry College. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has a doctorate from the University of Washington. His children attended and graduated from public schools.

His platform centers on three areas: ensuring that every classroom is safe and orderly, expecting every child to make academic progress annually, and accounting for every dollar spent and connecting that money to classrooms.

Runner-up Elizabeth Moffly is the owner of Moffly Construction and Real Estate. The Awendaw resident, who didn’t finish college, home-schools two of her children.

…

During the next couple of weeks, Zais said he plans to continue emphasizing his education experience, his leadership skills and his track record of turning around an institution. Everyone agrees changes need to be made, and it’s going to require a number of different initiatives to improve outcomes, he said.

“I feel good about the runoff,” he said. “I’ll have a fight on my hands in the general election but my record is strong and speaks for itself.”

…

Zais has raised $191,514 since he began campaigning, with $100,000 coming from a loan taken out by his campaign.

Moffly hasn’t turned in the most recent campaign finance report that was due 15 days before Tuesday’s election, and Herbert Hayden, executive director of the State Ethics Commission, said she will be sent a letter this week because of her failure to file the required information. She will be penalized with a $100 fine, and if she doesn’t submit that information within 10 days of the letter, she could face steeper fines.

Her campaign report from April shows she’s raised $117,282 with about $83,000 of that coming from loans she and her husband have made to the campaign.

Read the complete article.

Greenville News: Zais, Moffly to hit the road in state school chief runoff

Posted on June 11, 2010
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Newberry College President Mick Zais and business owner Elizabeth Moffly, the top vote-getters in the Republican primary race for state superintendent of education, said they already have hit the ground running in their runoff.

The winner of the June 22 contest will face Frank Holleman, the Democratic candidate, and Timothy Moultrie, the Libertarian candidate, in the November general election.

With all counties reporting, Zais led the Republican primary, with 98,349 votes, or 26.46 percent, followed by Moffly, with 70,248 votes, or 18.9 percent. Others in the race included Kelly Payne, 17.56 percent; Gary Burgess, 17.14 percent; Brent Nelsen, 12.69 percent; and Glenn Price, 7.25
percent.

…

“I think too many people get carried away with qualifications,” [Moffly] said, adding that she has an education plan that she’s been working on for years.

…

Jay W. Ragley, campaign manager for Zais, said, “We’re happy where we are. We always thought there would be a runoff.”

Zais’ experience in the military, in the classroom and as a college president and his record of leadership make him the best candidate in the runoff
and in the general election, Ragley said.

For the next two weeks, “We’ll be doing the same thing we have been doing,” he said. “We expect to be all over the state” discussing issues.

“The differences have stayed the same,” Ragley said, adding that leadership credentials and experience with budgets and employees make Zais the stronger candidate.

“He’s actually led a school and turned it around,” Ragley said.

Zais, formerly a general in the U.S. Army, said, “The No. 1 reason that kids drop out of school is that they reach the ninth grade and they read at a third-
grade level. But it’s not hopeless.”

He also advocates “multiple options for education. Every child is different, but the model is putting every child in the same classroom to learn in the
same way.”

Read the complete article.

Statement from Mick Zais Regarding Primary Results

Posted on June 8, 2010
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Zais Thanks Supporters After First Place Finish, Advances to Primary Runoff Election

NEWBERRY, SC – Tonight Mick Zais issued the following statement after receiving the highest number of votes to advance to the primary runoff election in the race for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Education.

Zais said, “I am grateful to the thousands of voters who supported my candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent.  This campaign has been focused on improving our schools for students and parents by reforming them with common-sense conservative ideas.  My breadth of experience in education, strong leadership credentials, record of success, and traditional values uniquely qualify me to be the strongest Republican candidate in November. I would like to thank my fellow Republicans who ran for this office but did not advance to the runoff election; they were excellent candidates and I applaud their individual efforts in this race.  I look forward to a spirited two-week sprint for the Republican nomination.”

Zais graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1969 and served 31 years as a paratrooper, Ranger and Brigadier General in the United States Army. He has been a classroom teacher as a faculty member at West Point teaching leadership, management, and organization behavior.  Zais also earned a doctorate in psychology, and for the past 10 years has served as President of Newberry College. Under Zais, enrollment has nearly doubled, the endowment reached all-time high, new facilities have been constructed and Newberry athletic teams compete for regional and national championships.  While other institutions of higher education raised tuition rates for this academic year, Newberry College did not and ended the fiscal year with a surplus.  For the first time in its history and for the second consecutive year, Newberry College was named one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

Mick Zais has been married to his wife, Susan, for over 30 years. They have two adult children: Bradley, age 25, is a veteran of the Iraq War and Ashley, age 23, is a graduate of Wofford College. Both Bradley and Ashley graduated from Newberry High, a public high school. The Zaises are members of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

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Mick Zais Wins 8th Straw Poll

Posted on June 5, 2010
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Mick Zais won his 8th in-person straw poll of the primary season tonight by winning the Orangeburg Orange Elephant Banquet straw poll with 42% of the vote. Mick also took home a 2nd place finish at the Myrtle Beach Republican Women Stampede straw poll.

The final “Olympic Medal Count” for Mick’s campaign is 8 gold medals and 4 silver medals. Mick’s 8 victories are more than any other Republican candidate for State Superintendent of Education, and he is the only candidate to finish in the top 2 in every in-person straw poll.

Mick’s straw poll Gold Medals (8 wins): 2010 Silver Elephant Banquet (Statewide), Berkeley County GOP Breakfast Club, Clarendon County GOP, Upstate Young Republicans (Greenville County), Beaufort County GOP, Florence County GOP, Sumter County GOP, Orangeburg County GOP

Mick’s straw poll Silver Medals (4): Horry County GOP, Rep. Steve Parker’s BBQ (Spartanburg County), Florence County Republican Women, Myrtle Beach Republican Women

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