Who Will Decide the Future of Public Education

The Future of Public Education in Arizona will be Decided in 11 Days.

In 11 days the 2010 primary elections will come to a close. The outcomes of the Republican legislative primary races in 7 districts will determine if Arizona can fix its structural problems while protecting the interests of students. The majority of legislatures will be Republican; the lopsided registration advantage among districts is stacked to ensure Republican control. The only question is whether the Republican legislative caucus will be a deliberative body or a rubber stamp of approval for the leadership.

During the 2009-2010 legislative session, that question was eventually settled in favor of leadership. In the end, public education had only two Republican friends in the Senate and none in the House. The legislative leadership was able to enact punitive policy changes regarding teacher employment, pass destructive legislation effecting students, and left the crucial question of education funding to the public.

If Arizona is to recover for the near collapse of state government, we must elect a legislature willing to have an honest discussion about priorities and that possesses the political will to reform our revenue structure to meet those priorities.

AEA Recommended Republican Candidates

Due to the shift in the Republican Party over the last decade, AEA has struggled to recommend Republican candidates. As the GOP in Arizona shifted its focus from a philosophy of limited government, local control and personal responsibility to an almost single minded fixation on tax cuts, it was harder and harder to find reasonable Republicans willing to engage in a conversation about the future of education. Perhaps AEA was not looking hard enough for a while, but that was the past. For the 2010 elections, AEA has recommended ten Republican legislative candidates.

Northern Arizona:
Karen Fann (LD1 House)
Central Arizona:
Dave Braswell (LD6 Senate)
Rick Robinson (LD6 House)
Heather Carter (LD7 House)
Venessa Whitener (LD21 House)
Paul Howell (LD22 House)
Steve Urie (LD22 House)
Southern Arizona:
Wade McLean (LD26 House)
Doug Sposito (LD30 House)
Marian McClure (LD30 Senate)

(links to the candidates web sites can be found on the nav. bar on the right)

Despite the claims of their opponents, the 2010 recommended candidates are solid Republicans with impressive political, professional and educational backgrounds. They are not “RINO’s” or democrat plants. Many of them have extensive histories of political involvement within the Republican Party. They are not liberals who happen to be Republican by circumstance. Most are social conservatives, and all are fiscal conservatives. As a group, they have simply stepped forward and said, “the key to economic recovery is quality public education.”

Five of them are or have been public school teachers, and not “taught for a year before doing something else” teachers, but career educators. A few of them are even members of their local associations. “I want my profession back!” a theme that echoed through this summer’s leadership meetings at both the state and national level, a possibility with these candidates if we take action.

The Decision Is Up to Us.

The turn out in Arizona primaries is usually less the 25%. When you do the math and consider the party registration within districts, it turns out many legislators are elected to office by less then 5% of the voters in their district. We already know who that five percent will choose. The question is; will we allow them to make the decision?

In each of the 7 legislative districts, the number of Republican educators and support professionals multiplied by their family and friends is enough to determine the outcome of the election. We can change the conversation. We can secure a future for Arizona’s students. We can take back our profession. But only if we act, and act now.

Fundraiser For Carter (LD7) Braswell (LD6) July 22.

Pleas join us in supporting Heather Carter and Dave Braswell.

Arizona needs Republican Voices in support of public education.

House Party For Carter and Braswell

Thursday July 22

5:30 to 7:30

Scottsdale

more info

AEA Republican Members Can Change the State

Last week the Governor singed HB2227, a bill that re-enforced the policy changes made during last summer's special session budget bills. The bill either explicitly or effectively removes all of our contract protections and due process rights. The bill's sponsor was Laurin Hendrix form LD22 (Gilbert, Higley and SE Mesa). Imagine if Hendrix was not the Representative.


Imagine if LD22 had a Republican Representative that not only understood, but also supported public education and the professionals that make it work. Imagine if LD22 was represented by a public school teacher.


It is not just a dream, it is a real possibility. Dr. Paul Howell could be the Representative from LD22. Dr. Howell is an educator of 16 years currently teaching English at Mesa HS and a member of Mesa EA. He was elected to the Higley School Board in 2008. Dr. Howell will be part of the change our State and our Party desperately needs.


However this change will not happen without our help. Please send Dr. Howell a message of support through his website or via facebook. If you live in LD22, please consider making a $5 clean elections contribution.