A unique gubernatorial campaign is taking shape in Oregon, where someone identifying as “Pencil” has launched a write-in bid for the state’s highest office.
The unconventional candidate, whose real name is J. Schuberth, has been making rounds through downtown Portland to connect with voters and curious onlookers. Schuberth’s campaign centers on advocating for significant changes to Oregon’s kindergarten through 12th-grade education system.
The motivation behind this unusual political approach stems from alarming statistics about the state’s academic performance. National testing data reveals that Oregon students score lowest in the nation for fourth-grade reading comprehension.
By running under the “Pencil” moniker, Schuberth hopes to serve as an alarm bell for current political leaders about the urgent need to address educational shortcomings in the state. The symbolic campaign represents a call to action for meaningful reform in Oregon’s struggling school system.
