Strengthening the Profession...

Republican state senator 'is a man of his word'

Jim Clements

The simple majority for school levies will be the big issue on the November ballot, but WEA members also are involved in a couple of key state Senate races.

It's an off year for legislative elections. Only two state Senate seats are up for election. In both cases, WEA-Political Action Committee (WEA-PAC) members have recommended the incumbents, who were appointed to fill partial terms. Democrat Brian Hatfield won WEA-PAC's backing based on his support for public education. He represents the 19th Legislative District, which stretches from Aberdeen to Longview.

Yakima-area Republican Sen. Jim Clements garnered WEA-PAC's recommendation in the 14th Legislative District. Clements, a former public school administrator, met with local WEA members multiple times during the recent legislative session. Although Clements didn’t support WEA members on every issue, he was one of three Republican senators who voted for the simple majority resolution for school levies.

"Sen. Clements is a man of his word," said Jerry Bounds, president of WEA MidState. "Up against a great deal of pressure from his own caucus, Sen. Clements voted for the simple majority. His vote was a critical vote. He promised he would deliver and he did." 

WEA-PAC members recommend legislative candidates based on their support for public schools, including issues such as funding, smaller class sizes and the WASL. Local WEA members interviewed Clements and Hatfield, and both candidates completed lengthy WEA-PAC questionnaires about public education.

More than 10,000 WEA members are WEA-PAC members. Beginning next school year, all WEA members will be able to contribute to WEA-PAC through monthly payroll deduction. Their contributions are used to elect Republican and Democratic candidates who actively support public schools and students.

Reach WEA Editor Linda Woo at lwoo@WashingtonEA.org, via postal mail at WEA, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100; phone 253-765-7027 (or toll-free outside Seattle-Tacoma: 800-622-3393 ext. 7027); or fax 253-946-7612. We welcome story ideas, letters to the editor and suggestions for improving WE-Washington Education, or WEA Online.