With one day left to file to run for office, O'Connell formally announced Thursday his intent to run for re-election and, barring an 11th-hour surprise, it appears he will face no substantial opposition.

Because the office is nonpartisan, O'Connell could win re-election in the June primary election. If one candidate captures a majority of the vote in the primary, the contest will be decided. If not, the two top vote-getters advance to a runoff in November.

As of Thursday, three candidates — all teachers — had filed to run, but none has raised any money and none has ties with either major political party. A fourth potential challenger, Diane Lenning of Huntington Beach, has taken out papers and received the endorsement of the conservative California Republican Assembly.

Lenning does not hold elected office and four years ago finished third in a three-candidate race for a seat on a community college district board in Orange County.

Typically, both major parties back a candidate for the statewide office. O'Connell, a former Democratic legislator who represented portions of Ventura County for 20 years, is backed by state Democrats. But Republicans have not united behind a candidate.

O'Connell said he intends to campaign aggressively across the state, but aides said no decision has been made on whether O'Connell will do any television advertising or spend any significant amount of his $1 million campaign fund.

In remarks announcing his re-election bid, O'Connell noted the support he has received from Democrats, Republicans and independents.

"I've tried to develop consensus, tried to forge compromises and have always tried to make decisions based on what's in the best interests of our children," he said.

He noted that over the past four years, test scores have gone up virtually across the board — in nearly every subject and nearly every grade level.

"By any standard," he said, "public education is moving in the right direction."

Bob Wells, executive director of the Association of California School Administrators, said O'Connell's performance during his first term has rightfully discouraged a serious challenge.

"He's done a great job," Wells said. "That sends a strong signal to any potential challengers. Why waste the resources in a campaign against him?"

Wells' group, which represents superintendents and other school administrators, has endorsed O'Connell, as have the California Teachers Association, the California School Employees Association, the California Association of School Business Officials and the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges.

Four years ago, when the position was open after former Superintendent Delaine Eastin was forced out by term limits, four candidates sought the seat, including a Republican assemblywoman, Lynne Leach, and Orange County School Board member Katherine Smith.

Leach and Smith essentially split the Republican vote in the primary, with Smith advancing to the runoff. O'Connell prevailed in the general election with 61.5 percent of the vote, winning every county except Orange.

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