November elections: an opportunity to select decision-makers who affect you
Teachers have the numbers to make a big difference in the elections, so be sure to vote! Election Day is Nov. 2, and early voting runs from Oct. 18-29.
The hottest ticket on the November ballot is the contest for Texas governor between incumbent Republican Rick Perry and Democratic challenger Bill White, former mayor of Houston. The ballot also includes Libertarian Kathie Glass and Green Party candidate Deb Shafto, both of Houston.
Texas remains a predominantly Republican state, and political observers predict that voters will keep Republicans in major statewide offices and holding a majority in the Texas House and Senate. However, White’s popularity as Houston mayor has kept polls close enough to make the governor’s race competitive: one June survey showed the candidates tied, though most polls continue to give Perry the edge by several percentage points.
TCTA invited both candidates to speak at our Leadership conference in July. Perry attended, while White was represented by his wife, attorney and children’s author Andrea White.
Perry praised TCTA, saying, “If there’s a group of people that we listen to more than the Texas Classroom Teachers Association about education, I don’t know who it is.” The governor touted some of the successes found in Texas public schools, such as significant increases in AP course participation and scores, and continued improvement in TAKS performance.
White relayed personal anecdotes that conveyed the importance of education to the White family, noting that Bill White’s parents and other relatives are teachers. She laid out the candidate’s five-point plan for education, which includes expansion of pre-K, a focus on dropout prevention, and moving away from “teaching to the test.”
More information on the candidates’ education platforms can be found on their websites: www.rickperry.org and www.billwhitefortexas.com.
Other elections
The strong majority currently held by Republicans in the Texas Senate, currently 19 Republicans to 12 Democrats, is unlikely to change. Instead all eyes will be on a handful of House districts that are nominally Republican but are held by Democrats. The pro-Obama tide that helped sweep some of these candidates into office has waned, and Republican challengers are hopeful that dissatisfaction with Washington, D.C., politics will have a down-ballot effect.
The House currently has 77 Republicans and 73 Democrats, and that near-even split has helped promote a measure of cooperation between the parties. Should Republicans be successful in regaining some of those seats lost in recent elections, or picking up a few long held by Democrats in areas that are generally considered conservative (particularly in East Texas), the resulting more partisan House could spell major changes in education policy and in how the House functions during what promises to be a very difficult session.
An enormous budget deficit and the required redistricting debates will pose huge challenges for House leadership, and significant changes in the makeup of the House could result in a new Speaker, new committee chairs, and a whole new way of doing business.
Teachers and other education professionals should never miss an opportunity to vote for the decision-makers who affect your profession, your students, and your schools. Among the many tools available to you is TCTA’s www.TexasTeachersVote.org, which includes information to help you keep informed about and active in the coming elections. As Election Day draws near, we will also post responses to our candidate survey.
TCTA does not make endorsements for political office.
