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Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Albuquerque Teachers Federation Endorses APS Board Candidates
From ATF: Today the Albuquerque Teachers Federation released their endorsements for the February 9, 2009 APS Board Election. Endorsed candidates include:
School Board District 3: Lorenzo L. Garcia
School Board District 5: NO ENDORSEMENT
School Board District 6: Mary Lee Martin
School Board District 7: David E. Peercy
ATF President Ellen Bernstein said that our local board leaders are critical, stating that, “It is vital that we have board of education members who will fight for the funding and resources our schools need, and who are supportive and respectful of teachers and the work we do.”
Candidate interviews took place on December 29 and January 2. Upon recommendation from the union's Committee on Political Education, votes were cast yesterday by the union's elected Federation Representatives. The union plans to conduct an intense member to member campaign until election day. Sara Attleson, Chair of the union's Committee on Political Education, said the union plans to encourage all educational employees to ‘get out the vote’ and vote early.
"We're serious about winning these seats. We will do what always has worked for us in the past - reaching out to our members and the community and mobilizing them to vote for our endorsed candidates," Attleson said. For more information contact Ellen Bernstein at 505-262-2657 or 505-350-9882.
Albuquerque Public School Board elections are set for February 3, 2009. Those who want to vote absentee can request applications at the Clerk's Office or by calling 468-1291 or e-mailing clerk@bernco.gov. Ballots will be mailed out starting Friday.
January 7, 2009 at 02:38 PM in Candidates & Races, Education | Permalink
Comments
Thanks for telling us about this. Who the teachers prefer is an important consideration in choosing school board members.
However, only registered voters who live in the districts with races this time can vote. If you don't live in School Board (and CNM) districts 3,5,6 or 7 you can't vote. To find out, go the county's "Where do I vote" web page (http://www.bernco.gov/wherevote/) and enter your name and date of birth. If your registration address isn't in one of those districts, you will get the message: PCT NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN APSCNM ELECTION.
It's too bad the constitutional amendment to stop having separate elections for schools didn't work out -- this could have been combined with another election and saved expenses.
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | Jan 7, 2009 3:26:07 PM
Michelle: As I recall, the Amendment to which you refer passed rather handily. Still, as you're always almost right about these things, I checked and found:
What I didn't find was confirmation of my hazy understanding that the Amendment was not to take effect until after the APS 2009 election. As per normal, I could be completely wrong about this, and look forward to confirmation of my inexactitude.
Posted by: scot | Jan 7, 2009 7:22:59 PM
I thought that amendment was thrown out by the courts because it was logrolling: more than one measure was included in a vote. But I can't find a reference to that right away. According to the League of Women Voters of Central NM Voters Guide, on p. 42 it says:
"CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1 --
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Article 12, Section 15 of the Constitution of
New Mexico to increase the size of certain school boards to nine members and conduct
the election by mail-in ballot or as otherwise provided by law."
Their first argument against it says:
"1. This amendment forces voters to cast one vote for two separate and distinct ideas. A
voter who believes that changing the size of the school board is a good idea, but does
not agree with allowing elections to be held by mail-in ballots, cannot vote for one provision
without also voting for the other one. The New Mexico Constitution prohibits combining
two independent provisions in the same piece of legislation."
http://www.lwvabc.org/elections/VGBallotIssues-SupportersP42-48.pdf
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | Jan 8, 2009 10:38:58 AM
Michelle: I recall two separate ballot measures. One was the ill-conceived attempt to both expand the APS Board AND allow mail-in ballots. The second one allowed school board election to be held alongside other non-partisan elections.
Note: The chances of me being wrong about this (as with anything involving memory)is astronomically high.
Posted by: scot | Jan 8, 2009 3:48:09 PM
You are right -- I didn't read far enough:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4
A joint resolution proposing to amend Article 7, Section 1 of the Constitution of New Mexico
to allow school elections to be held at the same time as non-partisan elections.
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | Jan 8, 2009 11:16:05 PM
"Thanks for telling us about this. Who the teachers prefer is an important consideration in choosing school board members."
You presume that the union endorsement represents the feelings of more than the few handfuls of teachers who actually had a hand in making the endorsement.
There are only two candidates; Marron and Robbins, who have made a commitment to putting student discipline on the table for an honest discussion.
Tell me that teachers wouldn't be falling all over themselves to vote for someone who actually do something about chronically disruptive students.
Posted by: ched macquigg | Jan 14, 2009 12:35:00 PM
Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.
Posted by: Endeasecage | Jan 21, 2009 7:16:58 PM
