COLUMBIA, S.C. - Inez Tenenbaum says she plans to run for a third term as state education superintendent and will announce her candidacy for re-election next month.

"It's a job I really enjoy," Tenenbaum said. "I feel so fulfilled as superintendent."

She is considered the Democrat's best chance at beating Gov. Mark Sanford for his seat in 2006.

"I think the best thing for me to do is focus on my re-election campaign starting in January," she said when asked about running as a gubernatorial candidate.

As an opponent of tax credits, Tenenbaum said she will fight Sanford's proposal to give tax breaks to parents who want to send their children to private school or another public school.

"The biggest problem is public schools are challenged by accountability, and here we want to give money to schools that have no accountability," she said.

In November, Tenenbaum lost a bid for retiring U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings' seat to U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, a Republican.

---

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com/