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State Board of Education Chairman Don McLeroy, known for voicing his strong religious and cultural convictions, faced off with the Senate Nominations committee Wednesday afternoon and did not disappoint.

Go here for extensive controversy.

McLeroy’s leadership has, in the words of Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, “created a hornet’s nest like I’ve never seen,” with no less than 15 bills filed to strip away power from his board.

McLeroy, naturally, argued in favor of leaving the board unchanged: elected as opposed to appointed, complete with powers to choose textbooks and set curriculum standards, under the leadership of a dentist named Don McLeroy. He doesn’t see a problem with the hoopla—in fact, he welcomes it.

“Education is so important that we want to have all views expressed. We want some debate,” McLeroy said.

When Shapleigh questioned McLeroy’s assertion that “education is too important not to be political,” McLeroy demonstrated his knack for quotable quotes, “It does sound crazy. That’s why I stated it that way.  I wanted to generate some thought.”

McLeroy also drew fire from Sen. Kirk Watson, who said, “People have a right to believe that you are going to do what’s in the best interest of their children, regardless of your specific views They have a right to believe that is actually happening. You have created or are in the middle of a situation, where a lot of people don’t believe that to be the case.”

Here’s another one: “We are restoring the soul in science. I see that as our role.”

Shapleigh told Nominations Chairman Mike Jackson that he intends to move that McLeroy be separated from the rest of those considered on Wednesday when they are brought up before the Senate for a vote. 

McLeroy would need two-thirds of the vote for his nomination to pass. Even if the vote goes down party lines, 19-12, he wouldn’t have the necessary 21 votes to be confirmed. Complicating matters, a number of the bills stripping his power were filed by Republicans. If it is clear he has no shot at making it to 21 votes, his confirmation might be a non-starter.

“The bottom line and end result is that 31 members of the Senate will make the vote on whether or not they’ll confirm these people,” said Jackson.  “If somebody’s not going to make it, then we’re not going to drag ‘em out on the Senate floor and have a long debate over that, because we have too many other things to do.”

According to Jackson, if McLeroy is not confirmed, Gov. Rick Perry will likely have to appoint someone else to serve, without confirmation, for two years until the next legislative session.

So, is it possible that Wednesday marked the last stand of Don McLeroy? Stay tuned.