Anyone watch school chief debate? I did. Candidates need to toss scripts.

I just watched the Atlanta Press Club Debate between the two candidates for state school superintendent.

Both Democrat Valarie Wilson and Republican Richard Woods revisited familiar ground, responding to the usual questions about Common Core, school funding and teacher quality with their usual answers.

I wish both would throw out the scripts and surprise us. Or that someone would ask them, “What will Georgia schools look like in four years if your opponent wins?”

Or, “Describe a school you saw on the campaign trail that works and why. Tell us about a school you saw that doesn't work and why. Was there anything the state did or didn’t do in either school that mattered one bit to the outcome?”

Democrat Valarie Wilson is holding a joint press conference Thursday with John Barge, suggesting an endorsement is en route.

Few Georgia voters seem to be paying attention to this race, probably due to the volatility of the top ticket contests between Nathan Deal and Jason Carter for governor and Michelle Nunn and David Perdue for U.S. Senate

I discussed the debate with an apolitical friend who watched and thought both candidates delivered canned responses. She was surprised about the "lack of interaction" -- another word for fireworks -- between the two candidates in light of the fast-approaching day of reckoning on Nov. 4.