ELECTION 2020

After spending time this summer as delegates to the GETTING Democratic National Convention (DNC) or as part of MEA/ NEA’s Battleground Summer (BGS) organizing effort, these MEA members and leaders know why this election INVOLVED is important—and why we all need to get involved.

“As a mother of two daughters, I was “First of all, vote—don’t take it for “At the state level, this is the last election inspired and so hopeful watching granted. Your vote counts! We have cycle in which state legislators will be as our female vice options to vote—use them. This seems chosen based on heavily gerrymandered presidential candidate. A Biden-Harris simplistic, but it’s so important. If you districts (drawn by GOP legislators, ticket ensures that we will have a don’t want to go to the ballot box, use traditionally hostile to traditional public president and vice president that cares the mail-in option. But vote! The second schools, after the 2010 election), so it’s about our public school education, our thing is make sure your family members imperative that MEA members support safety and well-being as citizens, health vote as well.” sympathetic legislators, even if they face care, and social and economic justice seeming insurmountable challenges. In for all of our people.” 2018 in my own state legislative districts, former teachers—despite the fact that their districts were drawn to favor GOP candidates—won both the state Senate and House districts.”

Brian Stevens, BGS organizer and Coldwater AP Government/U.S. Sara Gieleghem, DNC delegate and Government teacher Chippewa Valley elementary teacher “I started with emailing my family and “From changing school lunch rules friends. I posted BallotPower.org on Jon Forslund, BGS organizer and away from nutritious food to recently my Facebook page. I have (virtual) Plymouth-Canton social studies teacher prioritizing private and religious conversations at my church about schools to get coronavirus stimulus exercising your right to vote and how money, Betsy DeVos has failed important it is to request your ballot “Currently the leadership of the state America’s public school children. In a and send them in early. We are all Senate and House do not ask public perfect world there would be no charter in this together; there are no excuses school teachers about anything that schools and no voucher programs. as to why we cannot accomplish this has to do with education and refuse to Schools thrive when families feel a sense common goal!” bring bills to a vote that would impact of connection to and responsibility for education in a positive way. We can their local school district. Voters must elect leaders that believe in education say no to DeVos so that she can no and support teachers and collective longer continue to wring resources out bargaining. There are many ways to of our public schools.” get involved —reach out to a campaign and let them know you want to help!”

Chaunta R. Ford, BGS organizer and Bay City executive assistant

Gretchen Contreras, BGS organizer and Ypsilanti Lincoln Consolidated science Renay Weiss-Stansell, BGS organizer teacher and Livonia school counselor

12 OCT–NOV 2020 ELECTION 2020

“Public education as we know it is “My greatest hope for the 2020 election “The stakes of this election are too on the ballot. I urge you to donate is of unity—the unity of educators high for you to not take action. to MEA-PAC, and find your local supporting candidates who will work to The more people participate in county party or local candidate, provide the funds and resources for great democracy, the more democracy and get involved. There are many public schools; the unity of Americans to works for the people. The future easy ways to do this through virtual prioritize the future we are building by must be better. It’s up to us to make phone banking to texting, to sharing providing a fabulous public education for sure it is.” your story on social media. Let’s all our children, regardless of their zip fight and win to restore the soul of code; and the unity of our nation coming this nation!” together around decency, kindness, and hopefulness.”

Stephanie Sedlar, BGS organizer and Mt. Pleasant special education teacher Frank Burger, DNC delegate and Flint Carman-Ainsworth science Dan Love, BGS organizer and Walled teacher Lake third grade teacher

Volunteer—Visit mea.org/volunteer to sign up for opportunities to help with Election 2020, including contacting fellow members from home about this critical election.

Fire Betsy DeVos—Share information from mea.org/FireDevos about how Secretary DeVos’s agenda hurts public education and students.

Join our Outreach Circle—Use your phone as an organizing tool, sharing content with people you know. Get started by downloading the Outreach Circle app on your Apple or Google device and enter WUV728 in the explore function to join the MEA Outreach Circle.

Build a Vote From Home WAVE—Encourage fellow members, neighbors and the public to Vote From Home using our online WAVE tool. Contact Kevin Marvin at [email protected] for an online training session to get started with WAVE or Outreach Circle.

Give to PAC—At MEAVotes.org, make one-time or recurring credit card contributions to MEA-PAC. These voluntary contributions are used to help friends of public education win elections (dues dollars cannot be and are not used for political candidate contributions). You can also get

You can get involved in Election 2020 today! You can get involved information there about MEA recommended candidates and how to Vote From Home.

MEA VOICE 13 EDUCATORS FOR AND KAMALA HARRIS

Why fellow members are supporting a new direction for the White House

Educators deserve a president who Harris will reinvest in public educa- member—educators will have stead- listens to them. Who respects them, tion, make safety a priority, and en- fast friends in the White House who their expertise and their dedication sure students are ready to succeed in will be advocates for public educa- to students. Who will work to keep a modern economy. tion and students. everyone safe and ensure they have Making safety a priority amidst this Above all else, with compassion and the resources to succeed. pandemic is essential, which is why steady leadership, Biden will unite Joe Biden will be that president, Biden supports increasing funding the country—not stoke fears and which is why thousands of for classroom alterations, up-to-date further divide us. educators have committed to sup- and accessible technology, personal On every issue that impacts public porting him in this fall’s presidential protective equipment, and increased education and labor, the choice election, along with his running mate, sanitization. between Joe Biden and Donald Kamala Harris. Biden and Harris are committed Trump is clear—see the candi- Join them by becoming to attracting and retaining qualified date comparison for yourself at an “Educator for Joe” at educators by supporting pay raises, StrongPublicSchools.org. That’s StrongPublicSchools.org. improving emergency paid leave and why educators across the country As President, Biden’s first order of expanding student loan forgiveness are standing up as Educators for Joe. business will be to replace Betsy programs. Learn more at JoeBiden.com. DeVos with a qualified educator as Along with Dr. Jill Biden—a Secretary of Education. Biden and longtime teacher and NEA

It’s time to FIRE DEVOS and hire a qualified Secretary of Education

Siding with loan lenders and for-prof- it colleges over the students borrow- It’s been nearly four years since Gary Proposals to cut education fund- ing money to get degrees. Peters joined Senators from both ing and siphon taxpayer money to parties voting against Betsy DeVos’ private schools. Pushing blindly for reopening of schools, regardless of the advice of confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Millions sent to failing charter health experts and educators. Education. schools—some of which never even Since then, we’ve experienced a opened in the first place. Learn more at mea.org/FireDeVos about why we must replace her this litany of attacks on public educa- Elimination of protections for sexual November by electing Joe Biden, tion coming from DeVos and her assault victims on college campuses. department. who will appoint a qualified educator as Secretary of Education.

14 OCT–NOV 2020 ELECTION 2020

Clear choice for U.S. Senate—An Advocate for Education or An Advocate for Betsy DeVos MEA recommends Sen. Gary Peters for re-election

COVID” or someone who believes Senate leaders didn’t allow a vote on Betsy DeVos’s performance as sec- all summer). retary of education has been “very, On the other hand, Peters’ op- very good.” ponent—failed candidate and Throughout his time in public businessman John James—has service, Sen. Gary Peters has been continued to cozy up to DeVos a friend of public education, working and her family, taking in millions in with educators to get the resources campaign contributions and adver- necessary to provide students with tising support from them and even opportunities—from K-12 through hiring a DeVos family member to his higher education and skilled trade campaign team. Learn more about training. During this pandemic, his the ties between James and DeVos advocacy on those lines hasn’t wa- at JohnJamesRevealed.com. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters vered, following up that quote from For all these reasons and more, MEA a May education funding rally with and NEA support Gary Peters for non-stop pressure for the Senate to re-election to the U.S. Senate this Michigan voters have a clear choice vote on more resources for schools for the U.S. Senate this fall—some- fall. Learn more about Peters, his po- and students through the House- sitions and how to support his cam- one who has declared that “public passed HEROES Act (which GOP schools cannot be a casualty of paign at PetersForMichigan.com.

KEY MICHIGAN CONGRESSIONAL RACES Elissa Slotkin—8th Haley Stevens—11th —6th Hillary Scholten—3rd District District District District

In an open seat vacated As a state by Justin In one of This Southern representative Amash’s the nation’s Oakland and and minority vice decision to most competitive Western Wayne County seat is chair of the House Appropriations leave the GOP and not run for Congressional races, Slotkin another that flipped control in Committee, Hoadley has been reelection, Scholten is running runs for re-election after her 2018, when Stevens won her on the front lines of the fight for a strong race in Kent, Calhoun, 2018 victory in this Ingham, first term. A member of the U.S. adequate funding for Michigan Ionia, Barry and Montcalm Livingston and Northern Oakland House Education Committee, she schools. He is running against Counties. A civil rights attorney County seat. The Holly native has fought the DeVos education longtime Congressman Fred with the Michigan Immigration was a CIA analyst and former agenda in Congress and worked Upton, who has taken more Rights Center and former Defense Department official closely with MEA members than $75,000 in campaign social worker, she served in under Presidents George in her district. Originally from contributions from the DeVos the Department of Justice W. Bush and . Oakland County, she worked family over just the past five under President Obama. She has gone toe-to-toe with in the Obama administration years. jonhoadley.com hillaryscholten.com Betsy DeVos over federal during the Great Recession rule changes made regarding on the auto rescue and later campus sexual assaults that on manufacturing policy. For other Congressional recommendations, would affect MSU in her district. haleystevensforcongress.com elissaforcongress.com visit MEAVotes.org.

MEA VOICE 15 ELECTION 2020 Control of State House on ballot in November

Oakland County—With five top‑tier races, no county is more With the entire 110-seat State House on the ballot important for control of the this fall, control of the chamber and the agenda is up for grabs. MEA’s recommendations are made by local State House this fall: members and include candidates from both parties. 38th—Kelly Breen—After a narrow loss in For a complete list of recommended candidates, look 2018, this Novi city council member is back to at the Election 2020 pullout section in the middle of run again in Southwest Oakland, this time in an open seat due to term limits. the magazine. Key seats include: 39th—Julia Pulver—A nurse and 2018 Senate candidate, she hopes to defeat an incumbent here in West Bloomfield, Commerce and Wixom who’s taken key positions against public 104th—Dan O’Neil (Grand Traverse Co.) schools. After coming just 349 votes short in 40th—Rep. —A rising star who 2018, O’Neil—a local lawyer—is back to spoke at the Democratic National Convention, capture this Traverse City seat with strong she’s up for re-election this fall in Birmingham, fundraising and pro-education views. Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills and West 71st—Rep. (Eaton Co.) Bloomfield. Running for re-election in this seat west 41st—Rep. —After flipping this of Lansing, former school board member Troy seat in 2018, Kuppa runs for re-election Witwer needs mid-Michigan member after taking strong stands in favor of school support to continue her advocacy for funding increases for her local districts. schools at the Capitol. 45th—Barb Anness—A Rochester school board 61st— (Kalamazoo Co.) member and PTA activist, she is working hard Outside Metro , perhaps no to flip this open seat currently held by the GOP. suburban seat more represents the movement away from the President. Morse, a county commissioner, is running against a former Trump administration official. 62nd—Rep. (Calhoun Co.) Haadsma, a Battle Creek workers compensation attorney who has worked with MEA members for years, is running for Wayne County—Western and re-election after winning for the first time Wayne County will in 2018. continue to have key seats, 48th—Rep. Sheryl Kennedy (Genesee Co.) A retired MEA member and school including: administrator, Kennedy has been a strong voice for educators and increased 19th—Rep. ­—A microbiologist school funding in her role as on the K-12 and pro-public education incumbent running Appropriates Subcommittee. for her second term representing Livonia. 25th—Rep. (Macomb Co.) 20th—Rep. —A former teacher This Sterling Heights seat is a perennial and MEA local president running for re‑election target and this year is no exception for in Northville, Plymouth and eastern Canton. Shannon—a high school teacher and 23rd—Rep. —The former former city council member who was one educator from Brownstown serves as minority of several MEA members elected in 2018. vice chair of the critical House Education Committee.

16 OCT–NOV 2020 ELECTION 2020

MEA VOICE 2020 ELECTION PULL-OUT GUIDE

Keep this guide to help remind you how to help win for public education this fall, including voting for MEA-recommended candidates and IMPORTANT voting safely and securely from your home. DATES

OCT. 19: Last day to register to MEAVotes.org—Your One Stop Resource for Election vote online or by mail. 2020 OCT. 20: Mail your ballot before this day as early as you can or Visit MEAVotes.org to: drop it off at your clerk’s office. After this day, only drop your Look Up MEA Recommended Candidates for Your Area ballot off at your clerk’s office or in a dropbox provided by your Enter your address to get a customized list of candidates interviewed clerk (which you can find at and recommended—by MEA members like you—based on responses BallotPower.org.) to education and labor issues. These friends of education deserve your vote! NOV. 2: If you’re registered to vote where you live, you can vote Apply for a Ballot to Vote From Home absentee until 4 p.m. at your clerk’s office, after that you must Take advantage of new no-reason absentee voting vote at your polling location on rules to safely and securely Vote From Home. Election Day. Request your ballot (either online or via a printable NOV. 3: Election Day! The polls form), find timelines and local clerk information, are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. local and—using our BallotPower tool—sign up for updates time. At your clerk’s office, you to ensure your ballot is received and counted. can register to vote and then Contribute to MEA-PAC Online cast your ballot until 8 p.m.

Make one-time or recurring credit card contributions to MEA-PAC— these voluntary contributions are used to help friends of public education win elections (dues dollars cannot be and are not used for political candidate contributions). IMPORTANT LINKS

Interested in volunteering to help friends StrongPublicSchools.org of public education win this fall? Visit MichiganVoting.org mea.org/volunteer to sign up today! mi.gov/vote

MEA VOICE 17 ELECTION 2020

President and Vice President of the MEA S&R — Joe Biden and Kamala Harris United States Senator— Gary Peters MEA’s Screening & Recommending (S&R) process places control of MEA political recommendations in the hands of MEA members from across the state from diverse Fill in for Your District: backgrounds and roles within the public education community. Check out the list on the next page for your area or visit The process is governed by the MEAVotes.org to find MEA recommendations for your area, MEA Political Action Committee including important local races like school boards and (MEA-PAC) Council, made up of school millages or bonds. local delegates from MEA’s 60+ coordinating councils. U.S. Congress Recommendation decisions are based on candidate responses State House to questionnaires and interviews regarding education and labor issues only. Recommendations at the state level are made by the Statewide S&R Committee, which is State Board of Education— composed of elected members Ellen Cogen Lipton and from various parts of the state and Jason Strayhorn job classifications. Board of The S&R process for legislative Regents— districts is controlled at the Mark Bernstein and local level, where interviews and Shauna Ryder Diggs recommendation votes are taken by MEA members from those Michigan State University Board of jurisdictions serving on local S&R Trustees— Brian Mosallam Committees. and Rema Vassar Recommendations for federal offices must also be confirmed Wayne State University Board of by the board of the NEA Fund for Governors— Eva Garza Dewaelsche Children and Public Education. and Shirley Stancato Michigan Supreme Court— Note: All recommendations as Chief Justice Bridget Mary of publication date, Sept. 16— McCormack and for updates and more local Elizabeth Welch recommendations, visit MEAVotes.org.

18 OCT–NOV 2020 U.S. Congress:

CD 1 Dana Ferguson CD 2 Bryan Berghoef CD 3 Hillary Scholten HD 29 CD 4 Jerry Hilliard HD 30 Michael Chehab CD 5 Dan Kildee HD 31 Bill Sowerby CD 6 Jon Hoadley HD 32 No Recommendation CD 7 Gretchen Driskell HD 33 Jeff Yaroch HD 72 Lily Cheng-Schulting CD 8 Elissa Slotkin HD 34 Cynthia R. Neeley HD 73 Bill Saxton CD 9 Andy Levin HD 35 HD 74 No Recommendation CD 10 Kimberly Bizon HD 36 No Recommendation HD 75 David LaGrand CD 11 Haley Stevens HD 37 HD 76 CD 12 Debbie Dingell HD 38 Kelly Breen HD 77 No Recommendation CD 13 HD 39 Julia Pulver HD 78 Dan VandenHeede CD 14 Brenda Lawrence HD 40 Mari Manoogian HD 79 Chokwe Pitchford HD 41 Padma Kuppa HD 80 No Recommendation State House: HD 42 No Recommendation HD 81 No Recommendation HD 43 Nicole Breadon HD 82 Gary Howell HD 1 HD 44 Denise Forrest HD 83 No Recommendation HD 2 HD 45 Barb Anness HD 84 No Recommendation HD 3 HD 46 Jody LaMacchia HD 85 Andrea Kelly Garrison HD 4 HD 47 Robert J. Bezotte HD 86 No Recommendation HD 5 Cynthia A. Johnson HD 48 Sheryl Kennedy HD 87 No Recommendation HD 6 Tyrone Carter HD 49 John D. Cherry HD 88 No Recommendation HD 7 Helena Scott HD 50 HD 89 No Recommendation HD 8 Stephanie A. Young HD 51 Brad May HD 90 HD 9 No Recommendation HD 52 HD 91 Brian Hosticka HD 10 HD 53 HD 92 HD 11 HD 54 Ronnie Peterson HD 93 No Recommendation HD 12 HD 55 HD 94 Demond Tibbs HD 13 HD 56 No Recommendation HD 95 Amos O’Neal HD 14 HD 57 Will Garcia HD 96 HD 15 HD 58 Tamara Barnes HD 97 No Recommendation HD 16 Kevin Coleman HD 59 No Recommendation HD 98 Sarah Schulz HD 17 Christopher Slat HD 60 No Recommendation HD 99 John Zang HD 18 HD 61 Christine Morse HD 100 Scott VanSingel HD 19 Laurie Pohutsky HD 62 Jim Haadsma HD 101 Beth McGill-Rizer HD 20 Matt Koleszar HD 63 No Recommendation HD 102 Amanda Siggins HD 21 HD 64 No Recommendation HD 103 No Recommendation HD 22 Richard M. Steenland HD 65 Nancy Smith HD 104 Dan O’Neil HD 23 Darrin Camilleri HD 66 Abigail Wheeler HD 105 Jonathan Burke HD 24 Michelle Woodman HD 67 HD 106 No Recommendation HD 25 Nate Shannon HD 68 HD 107 Jim Page HD 26 Jim Ellison HD 69 HD 108 Renee Richer HD 27 HD 70 Karen Garvey HD 109 HD 28 HD 71 Angela Witwer HD 110 Janet Metsa MEA VOICE 19 ELECTION 2020

Apply now to Vote Control of Supreme Court rests on From Home

your votes down the ballot Take advantage of new no-reason absentee voting by using the form on the next page to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Michigan voters elect justices to the Supreme Court on the Go to BallotPower.org to find your local non-partisan section of the ballot, so straight party votes do clerk (where you can drop off both this not count for these races. That’s why finishing your ballot by application and, later, your completed voting for these two MEA-recommended candidates is so ballot) and to sign up for updates about your important—especially since control of the court’s majority ballot’s status to ensure your vote is counted hangs in the balance this fall for the first time in a decade. in November. You can also apply online Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack until Oct. 30 at that site.  Former University of Michigan law professor Instructions: who has served on the court since 2013.  Elected Chief Justice by her peers in 2019, STEP 1: Fill out the application completely. despite being a Democratic Party nominee You must sign the form to get a ballot. serving with a GOP majority. STEP 2: Deliver the application in any of  Wrote opinion in favor of districts’ ability to restrict the these ways: carry of guns in schools. 1. Mail it. Make sure the envelope has  Voted to return 3 percent of school employees’ salary proper postage and is addressed to unconstitutionally withheld in 2010-12. your local clerk. Elizabeth Welch 2. Email it. Take a picture of the form (or scan it) and email it to your clerk. Make  Grand Rapids-area employment law attorney. sure your signature is visible.  Has run own law practice for 16 years helping 3. in person to the clerk, the employers understand and follow laws Deliver it clerk’s office, or the clerk’s authorized governing wages and hours, leave practices, assistant. Someone in your immediate employee contracts and negotiations, and family or living in your household can more. help you deliver this application. If  Staunch supporter of public education, including service that’s not possible, you can ask any on the East Grand Rapids school board. Michigan registered voter to deliver it  Longtime parent advocate for strong schools to serve for you. The person helping you must students and communities. sign the “Certificate of Authorized Registered Elector Assisting in Returning Application.” When is the deadline to apply for an Key Local Races absentee ballot? Also, at the end of your ballot are important local school board Requests for an absent voter ballot must races, where recommendations are determined at the local be received by your township or city clerk level by members like you—check MEAVotes.org to find listings no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the for your area. election. If you’re already registered at your YES on Wayne Renewal current address, you can request an absent voter ballot in person at your clerk’s office Many local school funding proposals also appear down ballot, anytime up to 4 p.m. on the day prior to the including a vote this fall in Wayne County to reauthorize a election. countywide millage that generates $300 per student for the county’s districts—please vote YES. When do I need to deliver my ballot? Your completed absentee ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Begin the process early by delivering your application for an absentee ballot as soon as possible. 20 OCT–NOV 2020 ELECTION 2020

MEA VOICE 21