Rich Crandall
| Richard L. "Rich" Crandall | |
|---|---|
| Wyoming Director of Education | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 5, 2013 | |
| Governor | Matt Mead |
| Preceded by | New position superseding Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill |
| State Senator from Mesa, Arizona | |
| In office 2011 – July 2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Dave Farnsworth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 Blanding, San Juan County Utah, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Patrice Webb Crandall |
| Children | Seven children |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University University of Notre Dame |
| Religion | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints |
Richard L. Crandall, known as Rich Crandall (born 1962), has been since August 5, 2013, the director of the Wyoming Department of Education, based in the capital city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was appointed by Governor Matt Mead to the newly-established position when various duties were removed by the Wyoming Legislature from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill,[1] who is opposing Mead for re-nomination to a second term as governor in the 2014 Republican primary election.
Crandall is a moderate Republican former member of the Arizona State Senate. Elected in 2010, he resigned in 2013 to accept the position in Wyoming. Dave Farnsworth was selected to replace him by precinct committeemen of his district based in Mesa in Maricopa County.
Crandall was born in Blanding in San Juan County in southeastern Utah. He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He is a Certified Public Accountant and was the CFO from Crandall Corporate Dieticians. A Mormon, he and his wife, the former Patrice Webb, have seven children.[2] He serves on the board of directors of ChannelNet.
On January 28, 2014, the Wyoming Supreme Court in a three-to-two vote declared the law removing the duties of the superintendent of public instruction and placing them into the hands of an appointed director conflicts with the Wyoming State Constitution. The ruling would seem to mean that Hill will resume her regular duties during mid-February. Written by Justice E. James Burke and supported by Michael K. Davis and Barton Voigt, the Supreme Court opinion said that while the legislature can legally adjust the powers of the superintendent, it cannot undermine the constitutional authority of the office over the general supervision of public schools. Governor Mead, meanwhile, through the appointed Attorney General Peter K. Michael, will appeal for a rehearing. The court could stay the return of Hill to her regular duties pending the granting of any rehearing.[3]The court did not address Crandall's director position if and when Hill resumes her constitutional duties.
References
- ↑ "Wyoming Gov. Mead appoints Arizona senator to run education department, June 27, 2013". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ↑ Votesmart.org-Rich Crandall
- ↑ "State asks court to reconsider Hill ruling". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved January 31, 2014.