Election 2006 FAQs
Q: Why does the Association get involved in politics?
A: All of us want the best for Maryland children—our own, and those in the schools where we work. Public officials—local school boards, county executives and councils, the General Assembly in Annapolis, the Governor and the people he appoints—make important decisions that affect our lives and those of the children we serve. Why politics?
Your local and state Associations are involved in the political and public policy process to influence important decisions on student achievement, professional development, school funding, salaries, benefits, working conditions and other key issues.
This year, the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, all 188 seats in the Maryland General Assembly, county executives, boards of education and other county commissions/councils will be on the ballot. Every significant professional organization recognizes the importance of being part of the democratic process and speaking out for their interest. Your Association plays the same role.
Q: How does MSTA’s endorsement process work?
A: With critical elections across the state slated for November, we need to know which candidates are truly great leaders for great public schools. Before our Association recommends any candidate, we make sure they measure up on important issues. These candidates support our agenda by making sure every employee, student and school has the resources for successful teaching and learning. Learn more about MSTA’s endorsement process.
Q: Does MSTA endorse candidates of just one party?
A: No. In deciding whom to support, we weigh only a candidate’s voting record and commitment to students and public education. All candidates are invited to participate in our endorsement process. MSTA has endorsed a number of Republican candidates for General Assembly, County Commissions, and School Board races. This year Lt. Gov. Michael Steele completed the required questionnaire and interview, but declined our invitation to address delegates in May.
Q: Why didn’t MSTA endorse Bob Ehrlich for Governor?
A: We extended multiple invitations to Governor Ehrlich to participate in our endorsement process this year, but unfortunately he decided not to participate, making him ineligible for an endorsement. Had he chosen to participate, we still would have had serious concerns about his education record and lack of openness to MSTA’s views:
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The Governor was asked to include a representative from MSTA on the Steele Commission and allow us to provide input on the draft report, but he refused to do so. After multiple, unsuccessful attempts on our part to discuss MSTA’s pension position with his office, he failed to recommend a single cent for improved pensions, either in his budget or his supplemental requests. In fact, he never indicated publicly whether he would sign a pension bill until weeks after the General Assembly passed a bill with unanimous support from both parties.
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As a candidate in 2002, Bob Ehrlich promised to fully fund the Thornton funding plan, but once elected governor he initially opposed it. He eventually provided the minimum the law required, but still failed to fully fund Thornton through the GCEI (geographic cost of index). Instead, he declared a legal loophole that denied additional help to 86% of all students statewide.
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We are also concerned about other unmet education needs across the state in areas such as school construction and renovation, teacher recruitment and retention, and college affordability.
A: The State’s recent attempt to take over some troubled Baltimore City schools was the wrong approach. Taking over schools is not a formula for improvement, and given the poor record of Edison Schools, Inc., a private company, in managing other Baltimore schools (Baltimore Sun, 7/13/06), it’s the responsibility of the State and Governor to explain how they would do things differently.
Parents and educators know—and the research shows—that turning around schools that have underperformed for decades won’t happen through top-down, heavy-handed, quick fix measures. It takes an enormous amount of hard work, time and collaboration among all the stakeholders. This was exactly Mayor O’Malley’s approach. He brought together teachers, parents, students, administrators, staff and community leaders, and, as a result, Baltimore schools are making measurable progress.
MSTA is endorsing Martin O’Malley for Governor not just because of his education record and approach, but also because he has worked hard for our support and has a vision for strengthening public education in Maryland (visit www.martinomalley.com for more specifics). He has made specific commitments to MSTA to partner with us on legislation to address workload issues and to give every ESP a living wage, on State School Board and Local School Board appointments, and, more generally, on developing and implementing education policy.
O’Malley and former gubernatorial candidate Doug Duncan spent months reaching out to our leaders and members around the state. At the Spring Representative Assembly (RA), neither candidate received the required 58 percent of votes. A motion was passed calling on MSTA to support the winner of the Democratic Primary, but when Duncan unexpectedly withdrew from the race, O’Malley—by action of the RA—received MSTA’s endorsement.
Q: Is dues money used for political activities?
A: It’s against the law to use union dues for political activity. But if we’re to be successful on our issues, our Association must participate in the electoral process and communicate our recommendations to the community.
That’s the reason for MSTA’s Fund for Children and Public Education. The Fund is a voluntary, non-partisan political fund run by your Association. It helps teachers and other school employees influence the political process and elect local, state and national representatives who will address the issues that matter and stand up for public education. Voluntary contributions allow the Association to assist the campaigns of lawmakers who support our schools and to challenge those who do not. It’s as simple as that.
Your local and state Association representative bodies decide how the money is spent. As a member, you are entitled to participate in that process.
