Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1035650
Attorney General XAVIER BECERRA Becerra is a tireless fighter for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged students. He is an advocate for public education, working families, affordable healthcare and the environment. Becerra believes in protecting the rights of educators and all workers to collectively negotiate learning and working conditions. He wants to pro- tect students from for-profit education businesses that lack accountability, and often leave them with nothing to show for their tuition and hard work other than a worthless piece of paper. He will continue to serve as a stew- ard of the civil rights of our children and educators so that all are protected from discrimination, harassment and mistreatment. This includes making sure we don't abandon the 200,000 California Dreamers who will be among our next generation of leaders. xavierbecerra.com Secretary of State ALEX PADILLA Padilla is an unwavering friend to public schools, educators and kids. He believes in fully funding public education and providing schools with the resources needed to adequately support English learners. As a state Senator, Padilla authored legislative measures to identify and implement best practices in English learner curriculum and instruction statewide. He also authored a bill that increased the tobacco tax and boosted school revenue by $1 bil- lion. As the official who oversees California's elections, Padilla wants to see more civic instruction in schools, so students understand the respon- sibilities that come with living in a democracy. alex-padilla.com State Controller BETTY YEE Yee credits educators in San Fran- cisco public schools for preparing her for a lifetime of public service. She believes that teachers are assets to our state, and should be protected and supported. Among her top priorities are keep- ing public schools public by increasing charter school audits and stabi- lizing education funding by working for comprehensive tax reform. Yee wants to ensure retirement security for teachers by working toward full fund- ing of the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS). She also believes strongly in supporting the collective bargaining rights of educators and other public employees so they can advocate for each other, working conditions and students. Yee also co-founded the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project, which introduces California high school youth to the public service, public policy and political arenas. bettyyee.com State Treasurer FIONA MA The daughter of an art teacher, Ma is a product of public schools and believes every student deserves access to a high-quality education. Ma believes that schools need to be safe and nurturing learning envi- ronments where students can grow and achieve. She wants to increase resources to educators and find ways to fund school arts programs, music, shop, athletics and other extracur- ricular activities. Ma also wants to modernize and retrofit older school buildings to ensure the safety of stu- dents, educators and the community. fionama.com Insurance Commissioner RICARDO LARA Lara believes passionately in the power of public education and is driven by a vision for the future that includes expanding the services that protect and support our students. He is a champion of free community college for all California residents and universal preschool, so that our kids have more opportunities earlier. Lara wants to find ways to address inequity that fuels the "school-to- prison pipeline" across our state and provide opportunity to all students. He also believes in monitor- ing charter schools to make sure that public funds are used properly to pro- vide high-quality education to their students. In 2016, Lara worked with CTA to pass Proposition 58, which repealed bilingual education restrictions in our classrooms. ricardolara.com Board of Equalization, Seat 2 MALIA COHEN Cohen believes that every public school student should have access to a high-quality education, and this starts with providing educators with the resources they need. She helped make community college free in the City and County of San Francisco, and believes doing so for all California res- idents will promote equity in access to higher education opportunities. Cohen shares CTA's concern about the lack of accountability and trans- parency in charter schools, and sup - ports applying conflict of interest laws and disclosure regulations to every school that receives public funding. electmalia.com Note: CTA has no recommendation for Board of Equalization Seat 1. 43 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 018