Surprised Castillo wins to avoid runoff.

Byline: JEFF WRIGHT The Register-Guard

Susan Castillo took another step Tuesday in her journey from news reporter to newsmaker when the former TV journalist from Eugene overwhelmed two opponents to claim the state's top education job.

Because she captured more than 50 percent of the vote, Castillo avoided a November runoff and will assume the duties of state superintendent of public instruction in January. She will be the first Hispanic woman to hold statewide office in Oregon.

In late statewide returns, Castillo collared 55 percent of the votes cast. She did even better in her home county, winning 69 percent of the Lane County vote.

Rob Kremer of Portland, an outspoken advocate for charter schools, captured 30 percent of the statewide vote.

And in a stunning political crash, Stan Bunn, the incumbent superintendent, trailed with 15 percent. Bunn easily won the nonpartisan job four years ago but has been dogged by state ethics commission charges that he misused a state car and cell phone.

Castillo was nearly tongue-tied trying to describe her reaction as she bounced from campaign party to campaign party in Portland, cell phone in hand.

"I'm in shock. I am so happy and very surprised, actually," she said. "We worked very, very hard to win this in the primary, but we thought it was a very remote possibility."

Castillo said she thinks voters responded `because I have a hopeful message about education. I've been saying, `Hey, let's work on this together,' and people are saying, `Yes, absolutely, our schools are in trouble.' People care."

Castillo, a Democrat, was first appointed to the Legislature in 1997 and served as vice chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee this past session.

She previously worked for 15 years as a TV reporter at KVAL, covering several legislative sessions.

"It's really all I learned as a reporter that made me want to do this more, seeing firsthand what's happening to our schools and becoming concerned," she said.

Castillo lined up most of the race's endorsements - from education groups to daily newspapers to Gov. John Kitzhaber and other politicians in both major parties.

She also fielded a formidable campaign, with volunteers making more than 50,000 door-to-door visits across the state.

Kremer, a former investment banker who now runs an organization that helps start-up charter schools, failed to force a runoff despite outspending Castillo by nearly 2-to-1.

"I'm a little bit surprised and a little disappointed as well," said Kremer, who conceded the election before 9:30 p.m. "I thought we ran a very, very good race."

Kremer said all the the polls predicted a runoff. "We'll have to look at the numbers as to the why's," he said about Castillo's strong showing. "She clearly got the most votes and by a wide margin."

Kremer, who helped win approval of the 1999 state law clearing the way for charter schools, said he will continue to work to create such schools across the state. "That's one way to do what I wanted to do (as superintendent)," he said.

Bunn, a 55-year-old former legislator and lawyer from Newberg, campaigned on a record of lower high school dropout rates and higher student test scores during his four-year tenure.

He has vowed he'll be vindicated in court on the ethics charges and predicted they wouldn't hinder his bid for re-election.

But he acknowledged Tuesday that the ethics cloud was a campaign issue.

"It was my hope that the court case would be resolved before this election, and that didn't happen," he said. "It will be cleared up, but it doesn't come with the best timing."

Bunn said he will complete the last seven months of his term before turning the reins to Castillo, whom he congratulated Tuesday "on an impressive win."

The superintendent administers the state Department of Education with guidance from the state Board of Education, whose members are appointed.

CAPTION(S):

Candidate Susan Castillo (right) and supporter Nellie Fox-Edwards react after seeing favorable early election returns in Portland on Tuesday.