The host of a Texas political show on Sunday asked Keven Ellis, a candidate for State Board of Education in District 9, if he was "Christian enough" for the job.

During a Sunday face-off between Ellis and far-right opponent Mary Lou Bruner on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics, both candidates made their case to voters for the May 24th runoff for the GOP nomination.

Ellis argued that schools needed to be properly funded, but that the district had a responsibility to see that money was spent wisely.

Bruner, who has warned that pre-K programs indoctrinate children into the "homosexual agenda," called for slashing "special programs" and early childhood education.

"When you have 3 year olds in school then that's going to be very expensive because it's going to require a teacher and and aide for a very small number -- I don't know what that would be -- but I would say it would be 10 or 12 [students]," she said.

Ellis retorted: "But when you say we shouldn't do pre-K because our teachers are teaching a homosexual agenda to the children, I think that's a whole different vantage point."

"Ms. Bruner has said that she wants creationism taught in science class," Inside Texas Politics host Bud Kennedy noted. "And that her views represent those of the district. Are you Christian enough to represent this district?"

"Yes, I am," Ellis insisted. "I've taught Sunday school and Bible quiz in my church in 20 years. And I believe it's my responsibility to teach my faith to my children. The catch of when you get religion in school is whose religion is going to be taught?"

Bruner disagreed: "When we only teach theory -- it's a theory, theories are unproven -- but in the science class, if only one theory is taught then we're teaching a religion. It is the religion of atheism."