Saturday, October 8, 2011

The LAE Fund for Children & Public Education Endorses Tara Hollis for Governor



 

 
 

The LAE Fund for Children & Public Education Endorses Tara Hollis for Governor

Hollis' Extensive Knowledge and Experience as a Public School Educator Places Her Ahead In Candidate Screening Process


 

BATON ROUGE, LA
– October 8, 2011 – The LAE Fund for Children & Public Education (LAE-FCPE) – the political action committee for the Louisiana Association of Educators – has endorsed Tara Hollis for Governor of Louisiana.

The decision to endorse Hollis was made by a screening committee made up of LAE local presidents and executive committee members from across the state. The committee interviewed four of the 10 candidates - Ron Ceasar, Tara Hollis, 'Niki Bird' Papazoglakis, Ivo 'Trey' Roberts - who are vying for the state's top office.

The Fund for Children & Public Education interview team ultimately decided to recommend Hollis for the position. Her extensive knowledge and experience as a public school educator placed her ahead during the candidate screening process. LAE-FCPE Chairperson Joyce Haynes praised the committee on their decision.

"This is an extremely important election and members of the LAE-FCPE took this process very seriously," said Haynes. "The future of Louisiana relies on the policies enacted by the individual who is elected to this position. We feel as though Mrs. Hollis is a true supporter of public education and is someone who will to make the children of Louisiana her first priority."

Each candidate went through an extensive screening process where they were asked to answer a questionnaire exploring their views on teacher accountability, charter schools, teachers' retirement and state funding. The candidates then met with members of the LAE-FCPE, where they were given an opportunity to elaborate on their questionnaire answers, as well as their campaign platforms.

"We appreciate the initiative that these men and women are taking by running for this very important office," said Haynes. "We chose the individual whose platform was most in line with our values as educators."

The 2011 gubernatorial primary is set for October 22nd. We hope that Ms. Hollis will be able to win enough votes to effectuate a runoff - which is scheduled for November 19th

For more information visit www.lae.org. For contact with Joyce Haynes, LAE-FCPE chairperson please call or email Ashley Davis at ashley.davis@lae.org.

 
 


 

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Jindal declines debate invitation

Jindal declines debate invitation

Michelle Millhollon

Advocate capitol news bureau


 

Gov. Bobby Jindal won't participate in a candidate forum hosted by a teachers' union that recently opposed one of his key education initiatives.

Ashley Davis, spokeswoman for the Louisiana Association of Educators, said Wednesday that the nine other candidates in the governor's race have agreed to participate in the debate.

The debate, which will focus on education and revenue, is scheduled for 7 p.m. wednesday at the Bo Campbell Auditorium in the Cox Communications Academic Center on the LSU campus.

Jindal referenced past disputes with the Louisiana Association of Educators when asked about the debate at a news conference on school scores.

The LAE represents about 20,000 teachers and other school personnel.

"It doesn't surprise folks I don't always agree with the LAE," the governor said Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think they've ever endorsed me any time I've run. That's OK — still happy to sit down and talk with them."

The LAE is critical of a Jindal-backed law that will link annual teacher evaluations in part to student achievement.

Timmy Teepell, the governor's campaign advisor, said the debate will not have a wide enough audience to warrant the governor's participation.

"Yep, we declined. Because it is not televised statewide, the people of Louisiana won't see it," Teepell wrote in an email.

Teepell recently expressed disappointment through Twitter that WWL-TV in New Orleans is not holding a gubernatorial debate. He said earlier that he encouraged WWL-TV to allow the governor to debate a field of little-known candidates.

Nine people are running against the governor in the Oct. 22 primary: Democrats Cary Deaton, Tara Hollis, "Niki Bird" Papazoglakis and Ivo "Trey" Roberts, Libertarians Scott Lewis and David Blanchard, Leonard "Lenny" Bollingham, Ron Ceasar and William Robert "Bob" Lang, who do not have a party affiliation.

None is well-financed or well-known, giving the governor little opposition to his re-election bid.

The LAE debate may be the only one in the governor's race.

Jindal said Wednesday afternoon at his news conference that Teepell had not seen the LAE's invitation.

"We'll be happy to look at the invitation," the governor said.

Davis said after the news conference that Jindal's executive assistant, Kelley McCormick, had already declined on the governor's behalf.

The governor's press secretary, Kyle Plotkin, blamed the confusion on the LAE approaching Jindal's state office, rather than his campaign office.

Papazoglakis said Jindal does not want to defend a record that includes opposing a cigarette tax increase and supporting college tuition hikes.

"His performance has been atrocious. The numbers speak for themselves," she said.

Papazoglakis said she still will participate to let voters know there are other choices.

"He's cowardly," Deaton said.

He said Jindal is backpedaling on agreeing to debate even minor candidates in the governor's race.

Deaton said a Houma television station wanted to host a debate but nixed the idea after speaking to the governor's staff.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Members of the Louisiana Association of Educators’ Political Action Committee Interview Gubernatorial Hopefuls

Committee Meets with Four of the 10 Candidates Vying for Louisiana’s Top Leadership Position

BATON ROUGE, LA– October 3, 2011 – Members of the Louisiana Association of Educators’ political action committee – the LAE Fund for Children & Public Education (LAE-FCPE) – met over the weekend to interview the contenders vying for Louisiana’s top office. Of those running, LAE-FCPE members met with Ron Ceasar of Opelousas, Tara Hollis of Haynesville, Androniki “Niki Bird” Papazoglakis of Baton Rouge, and Ivo “Trey” Roberts of Gretna.

“This is an extremely important election and members of our political action committee are taking this process very seriously,” said LAE-FCPE Chairperson Joyce Haynes. “The future of Louisiana relies on the decisions made and the policies enacted by the individual who is elected to this position. We would really like to see someone who is a supporter of public education – someone who is going to make the children of Louisiana a priority.”

Each candidate went through an extensive screening process where they were asked to answer a questionnaire exploring their views on such issues as teacher accountability, charter schools, teachers’ retirement, privatization and state funding. The candidates then met with nearly 20 members of the LAE-FCPE, where they were given an opportunity to elaborate on their questionnaire answers, as well as their campaign platforms. Committee members reviewed each candidate and will soon make a recommendation to the full LAE-FCPE. The decision to endorse is forthcoming.

“The candidates we met with interviewed well and we appreciate the initiative that each is taking by running for this very important office,” said Haynes. “If we do decide to endorse, we will go with the individual whose platform is most in line with our values as educators.”

The 2011 gubernatorial primaries will take place on October 22nd. If needed, a runoff is scheduled for November 19th.

For more information visit www.lae.org or contact Ashley Davis at ashley.davis@lae.org.
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Gubernatorial Debates

The Louisiana Association of Educators in conjunction with several education and community organizations

Invites you to attend the

Gubernatorial Debates
Hosted by Louisiana Education Stakeholders

Wednesday, October 12, 2011
7:00 to 9:30 p.m.

Cox Communications Academic Center
On the LSU Campus
http://www.acsa.lsu.edu/

These debates will be covered by the major electronic and print media in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area and will be co-sponsored by numerous organizations including the following:

• Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE)
• Coalition for Louisiana Public Education (The Coalition)
• Louisiana School Board Association (LSBA)
• American Association of University Personnel (AAUP)
• American Association of University Women (AAUW)
• Louisiana State University Faculty Senate
• LSUnited

All candidates for the office of governor have been invited to participate.
For more details on this event, please contact either:

Dr. Michael Walker-Jones, Executive Director, at 225-343-4243 or mwalkerjones@lae.org
Ms. Ashley Davis, LAE Communications Specialist, at 225-343-4243 or Ashley.davis@lae.org