Vote For Candidates That Support Public Education, Labor, and the Middle Class

by Maury Koffman, APA President

The 2014 election cycle is proving once again that voters connected to public education are effective and credible messengers when it comes to pointing out to individuals and entire communities those candidates who are going to fight for students and public schools and universities.

With education issues dominating the public debate in several key races nationwide, ads featuring educators are flooding the television airwaves and teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff have been extremely vocal about what our students and we need to be successful.

However, knowing who these candidates are is not enough. We must now get out and vote for them on Tuesday, November 4, and encourage others to do the same.
That’s the message NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia is carrying to members and pro-public education activists as she visits several key battleground states, including a stop here in Michigan.

“Those connected to public education have spent this election cycle identifying to neighbors, friends, and family members who the real education champions are—those candidates committed to standing up for students and members at the local, state, and federal levels.”

“However, our job is not done. We must encourage those who care about these issues to get out and vote. Together, our collective voice can breathe new life into the goal of making sure that quality public schools and a college degree are accessible to every student, regardless of where they live or how much money they have.”

TAKE ACTION: Education cuts to budgets in places like Arizona, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have been exceptionally detrimental to our members and our students. With that being the case, President Eskelsen Garcia is asking all voters to get involved in raising the issue of education when they get out to vote on November 4th.

Hop on your favorite social media and take a picture at the polls, share your Education Voter story, or simply tell your friends to go vote for pro-public education candidates using the hashtag #Vote4Ed.