In this year's presidential and VP debates, there hasn't been all that much talk about local policy. But last night's debate between Barack Obama and John McCain did touch on urban education policy, and the candidates even discussed a local official! (Although they didn't mention her by name).
The exchange centered on Washington, D.C.'s new (ish) schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, and whether or not she supports vouchers:
OBAMA: I'll just make a quick comment about vouchers in D.C. Senator McCain's absolutely right: The D.C. school system is in terrible shape, and it has been for a very long time. And we've got a wonderful new superintendent there who's working very hard with the young mayor there to try...
MCCAIN: Who supports vouchers.
OBAMA: ... who initiated -- actually, supports charters.
MCCAIN: She supports vouchers, also.
So does she or not?
Well, as DCist notes, Rhee has said she supports D.C. Opportunity Scholarships, "a federally funded voucher program that is popular with parents but hasn't necessarily demonstrated significant improvement in student achievement."
But, according to an official statement Rhee issued last night, she's not convinced that vouchers themselves are a good solution:
While Chancellor Rhee hasn't taken a formal position on vouchers, she disagrees with the notion that vouchers are the remedy for repairing the city's school system.
I profiled Rhee last summer when she first came on the job. Now that she's the most famous non-plumbing American to be mentioned in the final presidential debate, maybe it's worth a read.
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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