Former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has endorsed Marianne Gasiecki of Mansfield for Ohio's State Board of Education, 5th district.  The 5th district covers all of Richland, Ashland, Medina and Wayne counties, and part of Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Holmes Counties.

Gasiecki, 50, is running against Rich Javorek, 61, of Chippewa Lake, and Bryan C. Williams, 47, of Fairlawn, for the seat.

"We've spent much, much more money over the past few years, but academic results have flat-lined. Marianne has the right attitude Ohio taxpayers need to stop waste and mismanagement in our schools," Mr. Blackwell stated.  "With a B.S. in accounting, Marianne has the fiscal skills to change our school spending priorities.  Marianne also has the heart to help our children.  She has volunteered as a reading tutor in her school district for 8 years, and started "Constitution Day" for grades K-5 in her local elementary school working closely with her principal, so our children can learn the essential values of democracy."

Gasiecki is a 1979 graduate of Clarence High School in New York and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

Gasiecki is the founder of the Mansfield Tea Party and serves as co-coordinator of the Ohio Tea Party Patriots.