FEA Recommends Two Candidates for U.S. Senate

FEA Recommends Dual Endorsement for U.S. Senate

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JACKSONVILLE -- The Florida Education Association announced today that it was backing both Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the race for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

“Kendrick Meek has always been a strong backer of public education and our positions for as long as he’s been in public service. He has always supported our schools and its employees,” said FEA President Andy Ford. “We wouldn’t have the class size provisions in the Florida Constitution without Kendrick’s tireless work to get that on the ballot and to win its approval. We know Kendrick would be welcome addition to the U.S. Senate.

“Gov. Charlie Crist took bold action this year in bucking the leaders of his former political party and listening to the teachers and parents of Florida when he vetoed Senate Bill 6 and set the stage for a better Florida application in the federal Race to the Top grant,” Ford said. “S.B. 6 energized teachers and parents throughout the state and Crist’s actions showed so many Floridians that their voices count. We think an independent Charlie Crist working for Floridians would also be a great asset in the Senate.”

Ford said the dual recommendation was what FEA would be conveying to its 140,000 members. Ford added that FEA would not be pushing the dual recommendation with the Florida AFL-CIO, which is also meeting in Jacksonville this weekend.

The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with more than 140,000 members. FEA represents pre K-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.

 Contact: Mark Pudlow, 850.201.3223 or 850.508.9756