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As the debate over an appointed vs. elected board of education heats up in the final days before the general election, one of the most interesting calls I’ve received lately came Wednesday morning from the president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Wil Okabe and the teachers union feel strongly that Hawaii should preserve a democratically elected board. He’s nervous that has raised more than $512,000 for its campaign supporting an appointed board. The union has spent $86,000 opposing it.

That’s why I was surprised when he didn’t denounce HSTA-endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie for voting in favor of the amendment for an appointed board.

Contrary to popular belief, the union never asked candidates seeking its endorsement whether they were in favor of an appointed or elected board of education, Okabe said.

“I think that prior to our recommendation of Neil, he had always said he would prefer an appointed school board,” he explained. “I think most governors would say that, because they want total authority for appointments. But Neil has also said that he would work with whatever decision the people make. Education is a priority for Neil, and that’s one of the reasons why we recommended him — because education is a priority and he said he was willing to work with either an elected or appointed school board.”

Okabe said regardless of the board’s makeup, a good governor ought to include the superintendent of education in cabinet-level meetings, the way those who preceded Gov. Linda Lingle did and the way Abercrombie promises he will.