Elizabeth Burmaster has won a second term as Wisconsin's top education official.

With 2,513 of 3,536 precincts reporting, Burmaster led with 62 percent. Her challenger, Republican lawmaker Gregg Underheim, trailed with 38 percent.

Burmaster's victory gives her another four-year term as the superintendent of public instruction.

The superintendent is responsible for governing Wisconsin's public schools, administering state and federal aid, and offering guidance to teachers and administrators.

Burmaster credited her victory to her message of balancing Wisconsin's priorities of providing a quality education with the need to hold down the property taxes that help fund schools.

Underheim says he's proud of his campaign. He says he was honest
with voters that Wisconsin needs to have a frank discussion about how to provide a quality education while spending less to ease the burden on taxpayers.

He chalked up his defeat to being outspent by Burmaster and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which spent thousands to
support the incumbent.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)