Two Opportunities to Engage in the Presidential Election

Here is some great information from Melinda Person, NYSUT Executive Director & Political Director, regarding two opportunities to engage in the 2020 Presidential Election.

TO:            NYSUT Board of Directors
                   NYSUT Local Presidents
                   PAC & VOTE-COPE Coordinators

FROM:      Melinda Person, Executive Director & Political Director

DATE:       December 10, 2019

RE:            Two Opportunities to Engage in the Presidential Election

1. I am excited to share with you an opportunity hosted by our national affiliates, the NEA and AFT, in partnership with MSNBC and other organizations.  On Saturday, December 14th, Democratic presidential candidates will participate in a forum entitled: Public Education Forum 2020: Equality and Justice for All!  Presidential hopefuls will face questions from our national unions, students, parents and civil rights groups.  The candidates expected to attend include: Former Vice President, Joe Biden; Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Tom Steyer; Senators Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.  This event will be streamed on NBC News Now, MSNBC.com and NBC News Learn, and will be featured across MSNBC programming.  We encourage you to tune in!  Streaming links details will be posted on mac.nysut.org as soon as they are available.

2. As we continue to prepare for the 2020 elections, we wanted to also remind you that NYSUT’s PAC Coordinators are working with our Regional Political Organizers (RPO) to hold regional conversations regarding the Democratic and Republican candidates running for the Office of President.  Much like our endorsement conference, local presidents or the president’s designee, and Board members are invited to come together to review the candidates and their positions.  Candidate policy positions, electability, and support of a pro-public education agenda will be discussed.  At the conclusion, each region will submit a recommendation to NYSUT of its preferred candidate or make a recommendation to take no action in the presidential race.

NYSUT will present a summary of the recommendations that come out of these meetings to our national affiliates based on this regional input.  After our national unions issue an endorsement, we will work together, with one unified voice, to help elect a candidate who shares our vision and aspirations for our nation, our union and our values.

Below are the dates, location, and contact information for the regional conversations.  Please register for the conference at the Regional Office that your local is based in—this may differ from your home address.   Click here to register: https://www.nysut.org/eReg/PCRC20

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Regional Political Organizer.