AUSTIN (May 28, 2009)--Senate Democrats have blocked the reappointment of the conservative head of the state board that sets standards and policies for Texas public schools.

The 19-11 vote Thursday was shy of the two-thirds approval needed to support Gov. Rick Perry's nomination of Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education.

McLeroy, who’s a Republican and self-described creationist, has been chairman of the board since 2007 and will remain a member.

McLeroy has supported requiring students to "evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency" of natural selection.

Democratic senators said McLeroy has sown division as leader of the board and opened the state to criticism in newspaper editorials.

McLeroy supporters called it a partisan objection that applied a "religious test" for public office.