I have been asked by many why we, the Albert Lea Education Association, did not support state Rep. Shannon Savick’s opponent, Peggy Bennett, who is an educator herself. I reply that there are many reasons. Just being a teacher doesn’t automatically mean your politics will support public education. Shannon’s opponent has refused to answer if she would vote for school vouchers or not.

We also see that Shannon’s opponents are supporting Jeff Johnson over Mark Dayton, the same Jeff Johnson who has publicly and proudly announced at a Tea Party gathering that if he wins, he will “Go all Scott Walker” on Minnesota, which includes limiting collective bargaining, shutting down unions and shifting money away from our public schools.

To set the record straight, I have never said anything negative about Peggy. I have never said she is negative to public education.

What I have said is if the Republican Party takes the house we have seen in the past that they attack public education. They refuse to fund it properly, and they even make cuts. They push for vouchers, stall payments, try to remove seniority and continually have us (public educators) on the defense. This is a sustained fact.

Shannon, on the other hand, is a proven friend of public education and working families. She has a verified record that shows this.

Please do not believe all of the negative fliers and ads. Look at your property tax bill, look at your personal tax, look at your local nursing home and look at your local schools.

In the past two years, with Shannon in the House, we’ve seen many important things happen in District 27A. We’ve seen incredible results for our students. The school shift was paid back, the entire state got all-day everyday kindergarten, an increase in funding and the state started to pay for the teacher evaluation program and froze tuition at state colleges and universities. It’s been a very good two years for public schools.

We have also seen an actual partnership with our state representative. When we call Shannon, she answers. When we go to the Capitol, she listens. Shannon has been the most supportive representative for education and the working family that we’ve had in this area in decades.

As you can see it is clear why we stand by Shannon (and Dayton). Why would we risk changing all of the good that has happened over the last two years? Why would we not keep moving forward with established high quality leadership?

Vote for your job. Vote for your family. Vote Shannon Savick and Mark Dayton.

 

Al Helgerson, president, Albert Lea Education Association

Albert Lea