Candidates Earn Support of Maryland’s Largest Professional Employee Organization
April 14, 2014, Annapolis: Today, the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) released its updated list of endorsed candidates for statewide offices, the Senate, and the House of Delegates for the 2014 elections. MSEA had previously announced its endorsement of Lt. Governor Anthony Brown for governor, Senator Brian Frosh for attorney general, and Comptroller Peter Franchot for re-election.
“MSEA’s rigorous, member-driven endorsement process identifies and recommends champions for public education who will help take our public schools to the next level,” said Betty Weller, president of MSEA. “The strength and quality of Maryland’s public schools depends on elected leaders making smart, forward-thinking decisions that help educators and students get the necessary tools, resources, and support they need to be successful.”
Click here for the updated list of endorsements.
To be eligible for recommendation, candidates must complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview with local educators. Committees of members then democratically decide upon the local’s recommendations for General Assembly seats, which are then debated and discussed by the members of the MSEA Fund for Children and Public Education. The Fund recommends candidates to the MSEA Board of Directors for final action. For more details on MSEA’s endorsement process, including details on the process for statewide offices, visit http://marylandeducators.org/hot-issues/2014-elections/mseas-endorsement-process.
“With the rocky implementation of Common Core, concerns about the adequacy and equity of school funding, and the challenge of closing achievement gaps, we must elect leaders who understand the need to invest in our schools and support sound policies that benefit all students,” said Weller. “The candidates we have endorsed stand with us in being committed to strong schools and in keeping Maryland a national leader in public education.”
MSEA is the 71,000-member Maryland affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), which represents more than 3 million education employees across the country. MSEA is the state’s largest professional employee organization. Members include elementary and secondary teachers, education support professionals, certificated specialists, school administrators, retired educators, higher education faculty, and students preparing to become teachers. MSEA supports 39 local affiliated associations throughout Maryland.
