Colleagues:
The IEA recommendation of Sen.
Kirk Dillard for the Republican nomination for governor has made big news
statewide. I’ve received lots of feedback on the IPACE
Committee’s decision (which was approved by the IEA Board of Directors). The
comments I’ve received have been overwhelmingly positive. Lots of
Democrats and Independents have told me they plan to vote in the
Republican Primary for Kirk Dillard. I hope all our members will do so. There have been some questions and concerns raised, so I’d like to
address some of those:
Why recommend Sen. Dillard?
Sen. Dillard supports our fight
for adequate funding for public education and he stood up to tremendous
pressure and voted against the pension-cutting bill, SB 1, which he
calls “unconstitutional.” He supports collective bargaining. In
fact, he still has the commemorative pen he received when Gov. Thompson signed
the first collective bargaining law in 1983.
IEA and Sen. Dillard do not agree
on every issue, but after working with him for decades, first as an aide
to Governors Thompson and Edgar and later as a legislator, we know that Kirk
Dillard values our members’ work, their opinions and their expertise. We know
he will listen to what we have to say. He believes in public education.
Contrast that with the
frontrunner for the GOP nomination, Bruce Rauner, who promises to take away the
rights of our members and strip them of the ability to advocate effectively for
public education, for their students and for their own working conditions. He
would privatize public schools and would move all active employees to 401K
plans, which would undermine the entire pension system.
Mr. Rauner is trying to buy the
election. If he succeeds, and is elected in November, he’ll try to
destroy our union. To ignore this reality would be irresponsible and
foolish. Kirk Dillard deserves our support.
Why no recommendation in the
Democratic primary?
The outcome of the Democratic
Primary for governor is not in question. We can make a difference in the
Republican race if our members, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, vote
for Kirk Dillard.
Does this mean that, if he wins
the Primary, IEA will recommend Dillard in the General Election?
The recommendation of Sen.
Dillard is only for the Primary. The nominees of both parties will be
interviewed and assessed after the primary. A decision on whether/who to
recommend will be made at that time.
Is Sen. Dillard a member of ALEC
(American Legislative Exchange Council)?
No. ALEC is notoriously slow to
remove legislators from their roster, but Sen. Dillard resigned from ALEC last
year. We’ve seen his letter of resignation. We have spoken frankly with him
about ALEC and the group’s education work. Sen. Dillard told us that his
emphasis while serving as ALEC Illinois Chair was on
pro-business legislation, not education.
What should we tell our members
about this election?
IEA members need someone we can
work with in the governor’s office. On the Republican side, Kirk Dillard is the
electable candidate who believes in public education. Sen. Dillard is the
son of a career teacher. He attended public school and sends his daughters
to public school. He supports our fight for adequate funding, voted
against SB1 and will oppose attacks on
our collective bargaining rights.
On Election Day, any registered
voter can request a Republican ballot and vote for Kirk Dillard, even if he/she
has never voted in a Republican Primary. A vote in the Republican Primary
for Kirk Dillard is the right vote for IEA members and for everyone who
supports public education.
I am a lifetime member of the IEA and the IRTA. I have supported public education all of my life. I have posted what I believe about this issue in the previous two posts.
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