John Austin - Biography John Austin, 40, was elected to the Michigan State Board of Education in 2000, as the Party's top vote getter after Al Gore and Debbie Stabenow, attracting more votes than anyone in the history of state or university board elections. John's election put the State Board under Democratic control, where he has led the charge to reassert State Board leadership in public education that was eroded under Governor John Engler. John campaigned for the Secretary of State nomination in 1998 and won the endorsements of a majority of Michigan's Democratic Congressional delegation, state and local party...