Friday, July 20, 2012

Manatee teachers union endorses Dave 'Watchdog' Miner, Linda Schaich for school board

The Manatee County teachers union has endorsed Dave "Watchdog" Miner and Linda Schaich for seats on the county school board.

On its website, the Manatee Education Association's political arm, MEA/TIGER, lists its specific reasons for supporting each candidate in the Aug. 14 elections.

Miner is running against three other candidates -- including two teachers -- for the District 2 seat now held by Harry Kinnan. Among other reasons, the union says Miner is the best choice because of his long involvement in education issues, his opposition to the FCAT and other high-stakes testing and his experience in challenging the school board and administration.

The other District 2 candidates are William Chaltis, Robert Moates and Paul Sharff.

In District 4, Schaich is challenging incumbent Bob Gause. The MEA said it endorsed Schaich because of her background in finance, her record of challenging the school board and administration and "tenacity" in pursuing questions about school spending.

For a detailed look at the union's explanation of its endorsements, go here.


14 comments:

  1. As a teacher, I chose not to join the teacher’s union and have never joined, thus I had no expectation that the union would ever endorse my candidacy for School Board.

    I am proud of the support I have received from so many of my fellow teachers, both union and non-union, across this county. They believe as I do that we need a new direction for our schools and that we need someone on the board who understands and has worked in our classrooms.

    Robert Moates
    Candidate for Manatee County School Board, District 2

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  2. Mr. Moates,
    As a teacher in the county, I too feel that we need a new direction from the governing body. The current board and superintendent are destroying what is left of teacher moral and trustworthiness in this county. "Good ole boy Politics" has GOT to end in this county. Too many people get positions in higher administration because of who they know rather than on their abilities. Two prime examples are Scott Martin and Jim Pauley. Martin was/is an attorney and he brown nosed his way into a position of Asst. Superintendent, and Pauley was a principal, but he brown nosed the superintendent so much, he was assured a position. I wish you all the best in the upcoming election, and I sincerely hope that Manatee County can recover from the damage done by the current board and super.

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  3. Go Watchdog Miner! He's exactly who is needed, because he doesn't need the approval of everyone on the board and the superintendent..in other words, he won't rubberstamp decisions, he'll do what fair and is correct. He is very discerning about their policies and finances, and he steps up to the plate to tell them what his opinion is and he gives them advice. I won't vote for Moates just because he was a teacher, when there is a canidate like Miner, who has proved that he follows the school board decisions religiously and is persistent in his goals to improve the school system. Moates will be superceded by Gause, who seems to run the board, because Moates doesn't have the authority and has no experience going up against the board.Even though he is a teacher, he has to have the moxie to deal with administration and other board members, and Moates doesn't have it.
    Vote Dave and Linda!

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    1. I hate to inform you for the obvious, but a renegade school board member isn't what we need. What we need is someone who can think independently and do what's best for our students first and foremost. We also need someone who can work with other school board members and the superintendent, even if they don't always agree. We don't need another Aranibar.

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  4. Vote Moates! We believe Moates is the right person for the school board. He will represent teachers as well as the families in our communities. He cares about our children's future and education. And we are sure he has the ability and perseverance to deal with the school board administration.

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  5. We need some new people on the school board Mr. Moates would do a fine job. Lets vote out all these old people and get some new people.

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    1. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate. However, what does it say about a union that represents teachers when it would rather endorse candidates who are NOT teachers? Maybe the MEA is not representing the best interests of the majority of its teachers.

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  6. Voting for Dave "Watchdog" Miner!

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  7. People pleae maakethe right choice

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  8. Mr. Miner has my vote. He knows more about school board policies than all of the other candidates combined. Several have never even attended a school board meeting but think they are qualified to serve on the board. Dave "Watchdog" Miner is the most qualified and will challenge the questionable policies the current board has passed. He is not a "rubber stamper."

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  9. The Teachers Union gives endorsement for their bought and paid for person,I always vote for who they don't endorse,get the unions out of the politics

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  10. I do not want anyone sitting on the SCHOOL board that has never worked in, or better yet, TEACHED in a school! How can you tell what is best for teachers if you have never taught? Spend some time in a classroom and then let me know if teachers don't deserve EVERY penny they earn and they actually deserve MORE! Robert Moates is the perfect person for this position because he has been a teacher and knows what it is like to deal with the continual pay cuts and stress over high stakes testing. He is the CHANGE we need on the school board! It is time for some fresh faces with new and better ideas! VOTE MOATES!

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  11. I have to laugh at all of the posts under Anonymous, it looks like there is one undecided person.

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  12. And how has Harry worked for you?

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