CEA Fund Endorses Candidates

The CEA Fund for Children and Public Education, the independently supported political action committee of the Chesterfield Education Association, met yesterday to discuss options for endorsing candidates in local races.  After hours of discussion and debate, the following endorsements were voted in the affirmative:

• For School Board from Bermuda: Stella Edwards;
• For School Board from Dale: David Wyman;
• For School Board from Matoaca: Tom Doland;

• For Supervisor from Bermuda: Mark Fausz;
• For Supervisor from Midlothain: Dan Gecker (unopposed).

(An endorsement for David Bernard in Virginia Senate District 10 had been previously forwarded to VEA.)

Informational talking points about each of the endorsed candidates are available through the CEA Office.  

The CEA Fund employs a strict process for ensuring that all announced candidates have the opportunity to seek and gain our endorsement.  All candidates were sent a questionnaire by registered mail that allowed them to take position for or against, and make preliminary comments on, issues related to public education in Chesterfield County and in general.  Regardless of a candidate's answers, s/he was invited to a panel interview if s/he returned the completed questionnaire.  Only candidates completing both parts of the process were eligible for endorsement. The interviewers then presented their findings at a scheduled meeting of the Fund committee to which all Fund members were invited and sent advance notification.  After presentation by the interview panelists, any member of the Fund could move a position of endorsement for ANY of the candidates who completed the process, or could move a position of "no endorsement" for a given race.

*All financial support for candidates provided by the CEA Fund is raised through separate donations by the Fund members; in accordance with federal law, regular CEA membership dues are NOT used.

Remember, when discussing political issues on school grounds during work hours, it IS permissible to be informative ("The CEA has endorsed Candidate X in race A."); however it is NOT permissible to be directive ("You should vote for Candidate Y in race B.").  If you have specific questions regarding "political speech" as it relates to the Acceptable Use Policy, please contact the CEA Office for advice.