Marilyn Howard

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Marilyn Howard
23rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 4, 1999[1] – January 1, 2007
Preceded byAnne C. Fox
Succeeded byTom Luna
Personal details
Born(1939-04-18)April 18, 1939
Mackay, Idaho, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 2020(2020-07-13) (aged 81)
Eagle, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Idaho (BA, MA)
Brigham Young University (EdD)

Marilyn Lenore Howard (April 18, 1939 – July 13, 2020) was an American politician from Idaho who served as the 23rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1999 to 2007. She is the last Democrat to hold statewide office in Idaho.

Early life[edit]

Marilyn Lenore Howard was born on April 18, 1939, in Mackay, Idaho.[2][3] In 1960, Howard graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Idaho and later with a master's degree in 1966. In 1986, she graduated with a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University. She completed postgraduate work at Idaho State University.[4][5]

Career[edit]

Education[edit]

In 1960, Howard became a history and language arts teacher in Lewiston, Idaho. In 1988, she became the principal of the West Park Elementary School in Moscow, Idaho. In 1992, she became the supervisor of the Moscow school district's developmental preschool.[4]

Superintendent of Public Instruction[edit]

In 1997, Howard announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction and defeated Wally Hedrick in the Democratic primary.[6][7] In the general election she defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent Anne C. Fox.[8] On January 29, 2002, she announced that she would seek reelection and won in the general election after defeating Republican nominee Tom Luna.[9][10]

In 2000, Howard was listed as the 26th most influential Idahoan.[11] In 2002, she was listed as the 12th most influential Idahoan.[12] During her tenure she and Governor Dirk Kempthorne attempted to create a position in the state Department of Education to oversee the education of Native American students, but the Idaho Legislature voted against it. However, the position would be later created by Tom Luna in 2007.[13] In December 2006, she was criticized for distributing $120,098 in merit bonuses to 135 of her employees.[14]

On October 25, 2005, Howard announced that she would not seek reelection.[15] When she left office in 2007 she was the last member of the Democratic Party to hold statewide office in Idaho.[4]

Later life[edit]

In 2006, Howard underwent surgery for breast cancer.[16] On July 13, 2020, Howard died in Eagle, Idaho, at age 81.[4]

Electoral history[edit]

1998 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Marilyn Howard 14,150 50.67%
Democratic Wally Hedrick 13,778 49.33%
Total votes 27,928 100.00%
1998 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Marilyn Howard 202,978 54.13%
Republican Anne C. Fox (incumbent) 171,976 45.87%
Total votes 374,954 100.00%
2002 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic primary[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Marilyn Howard 36,813 100.00%
Total votes 36,813 100.00%
2002 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Marilyn Howard (incumbent) 211,566 52.17%
Republican Tom Luna 184,018 45.37%
Libertarian Robbi L. Kier 9,984 2.46%
Total votes 405,568 100.00%

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Howard Takes Office". The Times-News. January 8, 1999. p. 9. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Former State Superintendent Marilyn Howard Dies
  3. ^ "Marilyn Lenore Howard".
  4. ^ a b c d "Former State Superintendent Marilyn Howard dies". Idaho News. July 13, 2020. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "Education". The Times-News. November 1, 1998. p. 37. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Moscow principal joins superintendent race". The Times-News. October 22, 1997. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Primary results 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Election results 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Democratic schools superintendent to run for re-election". South Idaho Press. January 30, 2002. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Election results 2002". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "The votes are in for the 100 most influential Idahoans". The Times-News. February 12, 2000. p. 6. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "The top 100". The Times-News. January 5, 2002. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Idaho to create position to oversee American Indian education". South Idaho Press. January 24, 2007. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Idaho school chief defends year-end bonuses". South Idaho Press. December 5, 2006. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Howard plans retirement". The Times-News. October 25, 2005. p. 9. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "State's top education official undergoes breast cancer surgery". South Idaho Press. August 15, 2006. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Election results 2002". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
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