FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 30, 2018

CEA releases member voting recommendations for Election 2018

High voter turnout expected among educators following April Days of Action

DENVER – As the #RedForEd movement sweeps across the nation, educators are predicting a massive national turnout for candidates and ballot measures supporting students and public education in 2018. The Education Association is confident that its 35,000 members will have a huge impact on the election, building on the momentum of three Days of Action in April that drew more than 15,000 teachers and support staff to the State Capitol.

“Educators in Colorado are demanding better funding and support for our students. The state with one of the fastest growing economies in the country should not be shortchanging our students by $672 million in this school year,” stated CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor. “We have a tremendous opportunity before us to elect a governor and state legislators who want students to thrive in great public schools in every part of the state, who want to raise pay to reverse our crippling educator shortage, and who want to listen to educator voices and hear our ideas for giving our students the schools they deserve.”

Educators are energized by the prospect of passing Amendment 73, the school funding measure. The passing of Amendment 73 would raise $1.6 billion annually to provide equitable funding for all Colorado schools by asking those benefiting the most from Colorado’s growth—corporations and the wealthy—to contribute a little more.

“Strong public schools are the backbone of healthy communities. Amendment 73 will give schools the funding they desperately need so we can prepare our students to be good citizens and make positive contributions to society,” Baca-Oehlert added.

Colorado spends $2,800 less than the national average per student and has the least competitive teacher wages in the country. Approximately 92% of Coloradans would not see their tax bill increase under Amendment 73. The measure would give communities local control over additional school investments and fund full-day kindergarten for all students and support for special education programs and English language learners.

Educators are also leading the charge in many communities to pass bonds for school construction and repair, and mill levy overrides that communities typically use to improve security, maintenance and technology, and reduce class sizes so students receive more one-on-one attention with teachers.

For months bipartisan teams of CEA members interviewed candidates for public office and reviewed state and local ballot initiatives to give the membership an informed opinion on how educator votes can make a positive difference for their profession and for their students in federal, state and local elections. Baca-Oehlert encourages all CEA members to review the following recommendations formed by their colleagues and “vote for the candidates and issues that will make a difference for your students and for your profession.”

CEA Recommended Candidates & Issues, Election 2018

U.S. Representatives

Congressional District 1 Diana DeGette Congressional District 2 Joe Neguse Congressional District 3 Congressional District 4 Karen McCormick Congressional District 6 Jason Crow Congressional District 7 Ed Perlmutter

State Offices

Governor Jared Polis Treasurer Dave Young Secretary of State Jena Griswold Attorney General Phil Weiser State Board of Education, CD-2 Angelika Schroeder State Board of Education, CD-4 Tim Krug CU Regent, At-Large Lesley Smith CU Regent, CD-3 Alvin Rivera CU Regent, CD-5 Dr. Tony Wolusky

Colorado Senate

Senate District 1 Debra Gufstason Senate District 3 Leroy Garcia Senate District 5 Kerry Donovan Senate District 11 Pete Lee Senate District 15 Rebecca Cranston Senate District 16 Tammy Story Senate District 20 Jesse Danielson Senate District 22 Brittany Pettersen Senate District 24

Colorado House

House District 1 House District 2 House District 3 Jeff Bridges House District 4 Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez House District 6 Chris Hansen House District 8 House District 9 House District 10 Edie Hooten House District 11 Jonathan Singer House District 12 Sonya Lewis House District 13 KC Becker House District 17 House District 18 Mark Snyder House District 20 Kent Jarnig House District 21 Liz Rosenbaum House District 22 Todd Kastetter House District 23 Chris Kennedy House District 24 House District 25 House District 26 House District 27 House District 28 House District 29 Tracy Kraft-Tharp House District 30 House District 31 House District 32 House District 33 House District 35 House District 36 House District 37 Tom Sullivan House District 38 Chris Kolker House District 40 Janet Buckner House District 42 Dominique Jackson House District 46 House District 47 Brianna Buentello House District 50 Rochelle Galindo House District 52 Joann Ginal House District 53 Jeni Arndt House District 56 Dave Rose House District 59 Barbara McLachlan House District 61 Julie McCluskie House District 62

Statewide Ballot Issues

Amendment 73 – Great Schools, Thriving Communities Support Amendment Y Support Amendment Z Support

Local Mill Levy Override and Bond Campaigns

Adams 12 - Adams 12 CAN for Kids Support Aurora - Aurora Citizens for Excellent Schools Support Clear Creek Co. - Friends of the Clear Creek School District Support Eaton – Investing in Our Children Support Jefferson Co. - We Are JEFFCO Support Lamar - Friends of Lamar Public Schools Support Lewis Palmer - Strong D38 Community Support Littleton - Citizens for Littleton Public Schools Support Sheridan - Citizens for Sheridan Students First Support Thompson Valley - Vote Yes for Thompson Students Support Trinidad - Trinidad for Children Support Westminster - Residents for the Advancement of WPS Support

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