Educators work to elect educators to the Legislature!
More than 55 WEA educators and staff gathered on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Vancouver to help get two WEA members, John Zingale and Adrian Cortes, elected to the Washington Legislature. We currently have 5 WEA members serving in the state Legislature, so electing John and Adrian would mean a 40% increase in the representation of educators in Olympia. This is why educators showed up in force for one of many doorbell days to help these two candidates get elected in November.
Adrian Cortes, a Camas special-education teacher, would be the only special-education teacher in the Legislature if he wins a seat in the state Senate. As we know, special education is one of the top issues we’ve been lobbying the Legislature on these past few sessions, so it’s critical to add his voice and first-hand perspective of the issues facing our highest-need students.
John Zingale teaches social studies and is running for a position in the state House. At the doorbell event over the weekend, he was proud that this election cycle we will have a History teacher at both the top and bottom of the ticket, a reference to vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz.
Along with Deken Letinich, who is running for the other state House seat, there is a slate of THREE labor candidates running Southwest Washington for the 18th Legislative District.
“I’m excited that we got to talk to members of the community about these amazing candidates,” said Alicia Jordan, a new WEA-PAC manager from Kent who is an 8th Grade U.S. history teacher at Cedar Heights Middle School. “Even though it meant spending time away from home and, in some cases, traveling a long distance, it was worth it to everyone there to make sure we have lawmakers who understand first-hand what students and educators really need.”
Wondering how YOU can help this election? Sign up for the WEA Statewide Day of Action on Oct. 26 ! Together, we’ll meet folks who are running for office, hear about important issues on the November ballot and go out to talk with community members about voting. Educators across the state will be gathering at 11 different locations, so you can sign up for the location closest to where you’ll be that day. Can't make it in person? Sign up to do phone calling here.