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"http://tn.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2013/11/14/tony-bennett-charged-in-ethics-compalint/%20%20Education%20is%20likely%20to%20be%20a%20central%20issue%20in%20the%202016%20election.%20%20Education%20really%20was%20not%20a%20big%20issue%20in%202012%20until%20Ritz%E2%80%99s%20shocking%20defeat%20of%20Tony%20Bennett%20on%20Election%20Day.%20the%20race%20for%20state%20superintendent%20was%20largely%20ignored%20by%20the%20media%20and%20even%20Bennett,%20who%20dismissed%20her%20call%20for%20a%20series%20of%20debates.%20Ritz%20and%20Bennett%20instead%20held%20one%20joint%20appearance.%20Schools%20were%20not%20a%20central%20issue%20of%20debate%20in%20the%20race%20for%20governor%20between%20Pence%20and%20his%20Democratic%20opponent,%20John%20Gregg.%20%20As%20long%20as%20Ritz%20remains%20in%20the%20race,%20education%20will%20be%20a%20central%20theme%20this%20time.%20She%20will%20certainly%20force%20a%20conversation%20about%20education%20in%20the%20primary%20election,%20as%20she%20is%20one%20of%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20few%20high%20profile%20Democrats.%20Ritz%20so%20far%20has%20trained%20her%20fire%20on%20Pence,%20rather%20than%20on%20her%20Democratic%20opponents%20Gregg%20and%20state%20Sen.%20Karen%20Tallian,%20D-Portage,%20with%20Pence%E2%80%99s%20management%20of%20education%20policy%20as%20her%20primary%20target.%20%20There%20could%20be%20hotly%20contested%20primary%20elections%20next%20May%20%20As%20it%20stands%20now,%20Indiana%20is%20looking%20at%20a%20three-way%20race%20for%20the%20Democratic%20nomination%20to%20challenge%20Pence%20for%20the%20next%2011%20months.%20All%20three%20candidates%20have%20different%20strengths%20and%20strong%20claims%20for%20why%20they%20should%20be%20nominated.%20Ritz%20is%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20best-know%20Democrat%20who%20has%20had%20some%20success%20in%20political%20wards%20with%20Pence.%20Gregg%20lost%20an%20unexpectedly%20close%20race%20with%20Pence%20last%20time%20and%20could%20do%20better%20given%20Pence%E2%80%99s%20recent%20decline%20in%20popularity%20and%20political%20problems.%20Some%20Democrats%20believe%20Tallian,%20who%20is%20less%20well%20known,%20might%20be%20a%20stronger%20match%20for%20the%20political%20views%20of%20core%20Democratic%20voters.%20%20On%20the%20Republican%20side,%20Pence%20has%20one%20challenger%20already:%20Fort%20Wayne%20car%20dealer%20Bob%20Thomas.%20Former%20Angie%E2%80%99s%20List%20CEO%20Bill%20Oesterle%20also%20has%20suggested%20he%20might%20help%20find%20a%20challenger%20for%20Pence%20in%20frustration%20with%20the%20governor%E2%80%99s%20support%20of%20a%20religious%20freedom%20bill%20that%20prompted%20a%20backlash%20against%20the%20state.%20Some%20observers%20think%20Pence%20could%20even%20attract%20a%20challenger%20from%20among%20religious%20conservatives,%20who%20are%20unhappy%20Pence%20softened%20his%20religious%20freedom%20stance.%20%20So%20it%E2%80%99s%20possible%20there%20could%20be%20two%20big%20primary%20election%20votes%20to%20select%20the%20party%20standard%20bearers%20for%20the%202016%20governor%E2%80%99s%20race.%20%20The%20race%20for%20state%20superintendent%20could%20get%20interesting%20%20If%20she%20were%20not%20picked%20by%20voters%20to%20be%20the%20Democratic%20nominee%20for%20governor%20in%20May%20of%202016,%20Ritz%20has%20said%20she%20likely%20would%20should%20renomination%20at%20the%20party%20convention%20to%20run%20again%20for%20state%20superintendent.%20Ritz%20said%20she%20was%20looking%20for%20a%20back%20up%20candidate%20who%20could%20run%20for%20her%20current%20job%20if%20voters%20choose%20her%20to%20take%20on%20Pence.%20%20That%20could%20get%20tricky.%20%20It%20might%20be%20difficult,%20first%20of%20all,%20to%20get%20a%20strong%20candidate%20willing%20essentially%20to%20be%20on%20stand%20by.%20A%20run%20for%20statewide%20office%20is%20a%20difficult%20challenge%20that%20requires%20a%20strong%20commitment.%20Also,%20Democrats%20will%20not%20want%20to%20lose%20control%20of%20the%20only%20statewide%20office%20they%20control.%20%20%20Meanwhile,%20Ritz%E2%80%99s%20run%20for%20governor%20provides%20an%20opening%20for%20a%20Republican%20challenger,%20and%20may%20create%20an%20incentive%20for%20any%20Republican%20considering%20a%20run%20to%20get%20into%20the%20race%20early.%20With%20Ritz%20focused%20on%20the%20governor%E2%80%99s%20race,%20there%20will%20be%20an%20opportunity%20for%20a%20Republican%20to%20push%20a%20different%20vision%20for%20the%20office%20and%20emphasize%20that%20her%20attention%20is%20divided%20between%20the%20job%20she%20was%20elected%20for%20and%20the%20one%20she%20hopes%20to%20have%20next.%20%20Pence%20also%20could%20be%20helped%20if%20an%20ally%20were%20to%20declare%20early%20a%20run%20for%20state%20superintendent.%20Together%20they%20could%20coordinate%20critiques%20of%20her%20work%20as%20superintendent.%20%20Politics%20could%20heat%20up%20again%20at%20the%20Indiana%20State%20Board%20of%20Education%20%20Changes%20in%20state%20law%20this%20year%20prompted%20the%2010%20other%20board%20seats%20besides%20Ritz%20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