It was all sweetness and light at the Republican First Tuesday Club meeting last week.

State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat, was welcomed with open arms and plenty of hugs. It was like old home week.

She was the guest speaker.

“I was treated beautifully,” she said afterward.

Some members had sought to have her disinvited because of her party affiliation. They maintained that club rules barred anyone other than Republicans from speaking. But the club board overruled them.

There was no mention of the controversy at Tuesday’s meeting, which attracted a larger than usual crowd.

Sen. John Courson, R-Richland, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, introduced Tenenbaum as a longtime friend who “has served with dignity and class.” But, he added to laughter, “I have never voted for her.”

Tenenbaum, who will not seek re-election in 2006, spoke for about 20 minutes about the challenges facing the state’s schools in 2006. She said early childhood education would be a top issue.

No one asked any hostile questions. No one booed or hissed.

“I know some people in this room who have voted for me, but I won’t tell who you are,” Tenenbaum said to sighs of relief.

At the conclusion of her address, Tenenbaum recognized several club members by name and cited some project or another they might have shared.

She then invited club members to come to a Democratic meeting in her neighborhood.

“Which phone booth are you meeting in?” attorney Roland Corning asked.

Mickey Lindler, the club parliamentarian who tried to get Tenenbaum disinvited, had nothing but positive things to say about the superintendent and her appearance Tuesday.

“It was very professional.”

Reach Bandy at (803) 771-8648 or lbandy@thestate.com