By Niki Kelly

INDIANAPOLIS – It appears Gov. Mitch Daniels is lining up behind southern Indiana school superintendent Tony Bennett in his attempt to replace Suellen Reed as the state’s top education official.

At Wednesday night’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Whitley County , Daniels introduced Bennett as the person who will likely be the next superintendent of public instruction in Indiana .

Bennett told the Louisville Courier-Journal in January that he is running for the position on the Republican side. He has been the superintendent for the Greater Clark County Schools district for less than a year.

Daniels’ statement either indicates he is endorsing a rookie against a veteran or that fellow Republican Reed will not seek a fifth term.

Reed appeared disappointed when told about Daniels’ quip Thursday and said she hopes to make a decision in the next week on a re-election bid.

“I’m considering all the possibilities and options,” she said.

Candidates for superintendent of public instruction are chosen at state party conventions in the summer. Voters then make a final decision in the November general election.

Reed has sometimes been the top vote-getter on the Republican ticket but has not always been embraced by her GOP colleagues, especially while working side by side with Democratic governors on educational issues.

“Dr. Reed has never played politics with children,” said Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, chairman of the House Education Committee who has worked closely with Reed for more than a decade. “Her integrity is impeccable.”

Porter noted she evaluates education ideas based on how the policy will help children, not by whether it is proposed by a Republican or Democrat.

In the past, Reed has blocked Republican attempts to move the ISTEP+ testing date to the spring but eventually sided with Daniels on the move.