If you haven’t voted early yet, today (Friday) is your last chance to vote early for the March 1 primaries. Voting early ensures you’ve got it covered, you’ve helped elect friends of educators. And if for some reason you are reading this after today’s deadline, and you haven’t voted yet, get out and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, March 1. Check your county’s website for early and day-of polling places, or check here. See our Election 2022 page for endorsements.
Educators have faced an onslaught of attacks from some state officials—all under enormous strain from low wages, an overwhelming workload, and unsafe conditions in the pandemic. But our members are more than just fed up. Some are ready to step up for the profession they love and run for office. Under the banner of “Respect Us and Elect Us,” these teachers have realized that they need to play a role in the leadership and policy decisions affecting our schools.
In a Virtual Town Hall hosted by Texas AFT on Thursday, the candidates outlined why they were running and how they can change the tide from disrespect of educators to respect by working as lawmakers. The four teachers—all Texas AFT members—who have taken the plunge into electoral politics by running in the March 1 Democratic primary are:
— Chris Leal, Dallas ISD teacher and Alliance-AFT member running for House District 114
— Candis Houston, recent Aldine ISD teacher and Aldine AFT (Houston area) president running for House District 142
— Diana Alexander, Cy-Fair ISD teacher and Cy-Fair AFT (Houston area) member running for Congressional District 38
— Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, Houston ISD teacher and Houston Federation of Teachers member running for State Board of Education District 4
Pol. Adv. Paid for by Texas AFT COPE