California Educator

November / December 2016

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Members of the Chico Unified Teachers Association walking precincts. Tally: Campaign 2016 Two CTA-recommended candidates in key federal contests fared well in statewide voting. Kamala Harris was elected U.S. senator with a 63 percent majority, and 62 percent of California voters chose Hillary Clin- ton for president. In legislative and congressional races, CTA won in 91 of 112 races in which it supported candidates, including wins for labor candidates Ash Kalra (Assembly District 27) and Al Muratsuchi (Assembly District 66). At press time, five races remained too close to call. Of the 36 local ballot measures CTA supported, 34 passed. Of the 218 can- didates CTA recommended for local school boards, 142 won and 76 lost. communities," says CTA President Eric C. Heins. "Educators want to work with parents and communities to build on the improvements we've made, and to ensure all students are ready for 21st century jobs in the global economy." E ducators al s o prai sed th e el e ction of California Attorney General Kamala Harris to the U.S. Senate. Harris demon- strated that education is one of her top priorities with her focus, in part, on the need to foster more respect and involve- ment for teachers, rather than imposing mandates without their input, and to invest more in our public schools. CTA members made a real difference in the passage of Props. 55, 58 and 52. Get Out the Vote efforts by members were key. e field-based State Council's initial GOTV kickoff over the Oct. 22-23 weekend was particularly effective: • More than 1,000 educators and volun- teers walked precincts, phone-banked, and wrote more than 12,000 postcards. • CTA members contacted nearly 40,000 voters. • Field efforts were bolstered by public and media visibility, as well as inten- sive social media activity throughout the state. Many television stations, newspapers and digital outlets covered our work. • Heins held news conferences in San Jose with state Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction Tom Torlakson, state Sen. Ricardo Lara (sponsor of Prop. 58), and local educators; and in Con- cord with state Treasurer John Chiang, Torlakson and local educators. e groundswell of GOTV activities by CTA members in the final weeks and days paid off, says Heins. "Educators gave it their all for students in this election." "As educators, we know quality public schools and colleges build a better Cali- fornia for all of us, and that's why we are committed to working with parents and local communities to help every child get the quality public education they deserve," Heins say s. " We are l eadin g ef for ts to improve the teaching profession, and we'll continue to advocate for social justice, equity and equal rights for all." Watch Heins' message about the elec- tion and C TA's w ork goin g for ward at youtu.be/c4C8E--wzQY. Sequoia District Teachers Association members make the calls. 41 November / December 2016 "EDUCATORS WANT TO WORK WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO BUILD ON THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE, AND TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS ARE READY FOR 21ST CENTURY JOBS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY." — ERIC HEINS, CTA PRESIDENT

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