Al Runte
Non-Partisan | Washington
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Al Runte
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2016
Election
Primary
Race
Supt. of Public Instruction
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Barbara, Ph.D., 1976
Illinois State University, Normal, M.A., 1971
State University of New York, Binghamton, B.A, 1969
WORK & MILITARY
UC Santa Barbara, Visiting Associate Professor, 1995
University of Washington, Assistant Professor of History, 1980-87
Baylor University, Assistant Director of Environmental Studies, 1979-80
Smithsonian Institution, Woodrow Wilson Center, Fellowship Specialist, 1978-79
AFFILIATIONS
Presbyterian Church, member, choir, youth group volunteer, National Parks Conservation Association
Board Member, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Board Member
University of Alaska Press, Board Member, Seattle Neighborhood Coalition
Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
City Council, Seattle, 2007
Mayor of Seattle, 2005
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Neutral
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated.
Strongly Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated.
Strongly Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Neutral
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Neutral
Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution should be rejected.
Agree
Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution should be rejected.
Agree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Agree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
Disagree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Strongly Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Strongly Disagree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Disagree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Disagree
Students should not be taught about intelligent design.
Disagree
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Agree
Students should not be taught about intelligent design.
Disagree
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Disagree
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Agree
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Disagree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Neutral
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Not within the purview of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Neutral
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God; Constitution
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Not within the purview of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Man's inclination to grasp for power.
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God; Constitution
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised Catholic and became Presbyterian. I believe in God and Creation; after all, I am a committed advocate of the national parks. That said, I believe that God works in a myriad of ways to advance and shape the universe. Just because a day on Earth is 24 hours long does not mean that God's day cannot be billions of years long. I believe in the Ten Commandments as strongly as I believe in the Bill of Rights. Throughout history, humans have always needed direction and guidance. I have no problem admitting what has guided them best.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Man's inclination to grasp for power.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Conservative
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised Catholic and became Presbyterian. I believe in God and Creation; after all, I am a committed advocate of the national parks. That said, I believe that God works in a myriad of ways to advance and shape the universe. Just because a day on Earth is 24 hours long does not mean that God's day cannot be billions of years long. I believe in the Ten Commandments as strongly as I believe in the Bill of Rights. Throughout history, humans have always needed direction and guidance. I have no problem admitting what has guided them best.
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
Please note the title and opening paragraphs of the attached news release, dated June 3, 2016: SPI CANDIDATE DR. AL RUNTE WOULD REPEAL NEW SEX EDUCATION “HEALTH” STANDARDS FOR WASHINGTON KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. As the new state Superintendent of Public Instruction, I would bring common sense back to the classroom. On my first day as state Superintendent, I would take immediate action to repeal the new state standards that require sex and gender education to be taught to kindergarten students who are on average 5 to 6 years old. Classroom teaching at this level should be all about helping children begin to learn the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. Adult social concepts should not be forced on kids when they are first beginning their schooling. Social concepts of adults such as gender identity have no place in kindergarten classrooms in Washington State.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Conservative
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
alfred_runte@msn.com; campaign phone (206)719-2846
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
Please note the title and opening paragraphs of the attached news release, dated June 3, 2016: SPI CANDIDATE DR. AL RUNTE WOULD REPEAL NEW SEX EDUCATION “HEALTH” STANDARDS FOR WASHINGTON KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. As the new state Superintendent of Public Instruction, I would bring common sense back to the classroom. On my first day as state Superintendent, I would take immediate action to repeal the new state standards that require sex and gender education to be taught to kindergarten students who are on average 5 to 6 years old. Classroom teaching at this level should be all about helping children begin to learn the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. Adult social concepts should not be forced on kids when they are first beginning their schooling. Social concepts of adults such as gender identity have no place in kindergarten classrooms in Washington State.
Additional comment from candidate:
No answer.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
alfred_runte@msn.com; campaign phone (206)719-2846
Additional comment from candidate:
No answer.
