California Educator

February 09

Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/2864

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 35 of 39

of secretary-treasurer of CTA. Running for the position are Daniel Vaughn and Gail Mendes. Vaughn is the current CTA CTA to hold election for secretary-treasurer A t the March meeting of State Council, an election will be held for the office secretary-treasurer and a member of the Downey Education Asso- ciation. Mendes is a member of United Teachers of Richmond. David A. Sanchez, a member of the Santa Maria Elementary Education Association, was re- At the national level we spent DAN VAUGHN My name is Dan Vaughn and I have been your Secretary Treasurer for the past two years. Over these two years, I have had the privilege of being part of an outstanding leadership team, dedicated to pro- tecting the salaries, benefits and rights of our members. When I ran for office two years ago, my campaign was based on the concept of Vision and Vigi- lance. Little did I know, nor could anybody have known, that it would be vigilance that would dominate these first two years. The economic crisis at both the nation- al and state levels has created a fi- nancial environment that has dominated every meeting I have attended. During these two years, I am proud of the leadership role CTA has taken to fight the drastic state budget cuts. Our “CTA Cuts Hurt Bus Tour” last year highlight- ed the damaging effects those cuts would have to public education and changed public opinion on the idea of raising revenues to meet this challenge. a great deal of time in being vigi- lant about the abuses foisted upon teachers and students by No Child Left Behind. Here, I believe, it was our vision of what needs to be changed in that bill that al- lowed us to work and move NEA into strong action and pressure our congressional delegation into quashing proposed legislation that would have eroded bargain- ing protections and allowed mer- it pay to be instituted. I believe we have won. The change in admin- istration and the coming to the Presidency of Barack Obama will pay big dividends for teachers and students. In this time of crisis, CTA can depend on an experienced team of leaders to continue act- ing with great vigilance. I hope that in the next two years, this leadership team will have the opportunity to put new ideas into action that will promote and protect the rights of educa- tors and support professionals. Finally, the Secretary Treasurer is at the center of keeping CTA fi- nancially strong and secure. I have worked to ensure the CTA budget is able to provide the resources necessary to wage the fights that are ahead. I will continue to be vig- ilant for the financial well-being of CTA, and to ensure that your dues dollars are used to promote the priorities of the Association, and defend public education within California and in Washington, D.C. I ask for your support. 36 California Educator | february 2009 elected to the office of CTA presi- dent at the January meeting. Dean E. Vogel, a member of the Vaca- ville Teachers Association, was re- elected vice president. Sanchez and Vogel both ran unopposed. Their new terms start on June 26. Following are unedited cam- paign statements submitted by the candidates. They were limited to 400 words. Disclaimer: The statements do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of CTA. also promise that we won’t always agree, and that’s OK because we’ ll struggle and work through it together. We’ ll come out a stronger union for hav ing gone through the process. It’s simple organizing. I’m a strong proponent of GAIL MENDES My name is Gail Mendes and I’m running for Secretary Treasurer of CTA because I want to help you improve your salary and working conditions. I believe the power to take our s cho ols back from the politicians comes from CTA’s members, not from its leaders, not from its staff. A political force of 340,000 trusted, dedicate CTA members working side by side to improve the working and learning conditions in our schools is an indomitable force. Now is the time to capture the energy from this force and convert it into sustainable political muscle. We have not yet reached our full political power po- tential, and we won’t until each CTA member feels like he or she has a voice that is sought out and heard. As Secretary Treasurer I promise to ask for your input and listen to your ideas. I basic organizing, but I am an unconventional candidate because I haven’t followed the traditional path to the office of Secretary Treasurer. I’m currently a classroom teacher and the immediate pas t president of the United Teachers of Richmond. As a c l a s sro om te acher I’v e experienced first hand the devastation No Child Left Behind has had on our s tudents and on our profession. As a long time member of CTA’s Budget Committee I know what it takes to balance a budget. I have the experience and the communic a t ion sk i l l s necessary to get the job done! As advocates for education we must improve the two way communication wi th our members to create the politi- cal laser like focus necessary to ful ly fund education in California. Failure is not an option because CTA is the last line of defense between our students and the disaster that the State of California calls an education budget.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of California Educator - February 09