By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 9:20 PM
READ IT HERE FIRST Labels: Breaking_News, State_Senate
The St. Louis City Teachers' Union Committee on Political Education (COPE) has recommended that the union endorse State Rep. Amber Boykins for state senate.
COPE also recommended former school board member Bill Haas be endorsed in his campaign against State Rep. Rodney Hubbard. We are told that Hubbard never showed up for his scheduled interview with the teachers.
Local 420's executive board, which is not bound to accept the committee's recommendation, is expected to announce its full list of endorsements later this week.
20 Comments:
This information was actually on that arch city blog last week.
6/20/2006 10:34 PM
I don't think so. Show me the link.
6/20/2006 11:23 PM
This is also news to me. It was predictable, considering Boykins was first out of the block in endorsing Local 420's school board slate this spring. It should breathe life into the Boykins campaign following a couple weeks when everything seemed to be going in favor of either Jeff Smith or Yaphett El-Amin. On the other hand, it will be a major letdown for the Boykins campaign if the Local 420 executive board fails to follow the recommendation.
BTW, as Antonio explained, this "COPE" is just a subcommittee for Local 420, not the similarly named umbrella organization for most of organized labor.
6/21/2006 12:30 AM
Brian, the Arch City Chronicle just posted this morning (9 hours after we reported it) that Local 420 gave its endorsement Boykins -- which is incorrect. COPE has recommended it, but the executive board has not accepted that recommendation yet.
6/21/2006 9:46 AM
no sir, I saw it last friday
6/21/2006 12:01 PM
Again, the link?
6/21/2006 12:05 PM
are ya'll arguing about the Cope endorsment or the school administrators pac? They are very differn't organizations
6/21/2006 3:02 PM
http://www.archcitychronicle.com/archives/001700.php
heres your link home boy
6/21/2006 3:09 PM
The Missouri School Administrators PAC is not the St. Louis Teachers Union, Local 420. These are two completely seperate organizations, Brian.
6/21/2006 3:25 PM
thanks mr french.
6/21/2006 3:29 PM
This makes it easy for St. Louis voters. If Local 420 is backing them, don't vote for them. In essence, anybody that 420 is for, is bad for the constituents. Look at the union. It's a mess, full of incompetents. Do you want somebody to serve you as well as the union serves the taxpayers of St. Louis? Ms. Boykins may be a good person, and good politician. However, I can't see an endorsement from this union (just this one, not any other one) helping her get elected. It might very well hurt her chances.
6/21/2006 4:13 PM
K. Johnson,
Your line of thought dosent work.. THE PEOPLE chose the teachers slate in the School Board election.
Maybe you sould pay atention to the teachers insted of making spit balls in the back of the room!
6/21/2006 4:28 PM
I think K.Johnson is right, but I also think it was a politic move for boykins, just to get her name out their.
6/21/2006 4:53 PM
anonynmous,
Perhaps you're right. My intention is not to smear Ms. Boykins reputation. If that came across, that wasn't my intention. However, Local 420 doesn't have a lot credit with voters. For good or ill, the union has left a bitter taste in the mouth of many people that have dealt with them, either because of shoddy union leadership, or the teachers themselves proving to be what's needed in our schools.
As a student, in my 15+ years of schooling (I'm in college), I have yet to sit in the back of the class. I prefer the front. My instructors will vouch for my lack of disruptiveness.
Further, I've had teachers in SLPS (Cupples had an exemplary principal and staff) that I hold in high regard, and if they think highly of a candidate, I will consider it.
6/21/2006 6:02 PM
Greetings, Guys!
I blogged the 4-1-1 last Friday on Arch City.
The executive board, to my knowledge, has always taken the recommendation of the COPE Committee. It is in the COPE Committee's Bylaws that all recommendations be seconded by the executive board--you know for democracy's sake.
Nia was on the scene.
Point of clarification:
Oracle:
Rep. Boykins was not the first out of the camp to endorse the two school board candidates. As a matter of fact, it was state senate hopeful Kenny Jones, who organized a significant area of North St. Louis-as well as election day activities-- for the organization and sent personal correspondence to the union office in support of the candidates--Peter Downs and Donna Jones.
Former Alderman, former Executive Director of Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, former ironworker/union member Kenny Jones, former Slay well-wisher, well I'm sure by now you get the picture; ran down the Teacher's Union to endorse their candidates for the school board I'm sure for a return endorsement.
Local 420's COPE Committee endorsed Rep. Boykins because of her voting record as it relates to public education and her consistent oppositional stance as it relates to vouchers, scholarships, and/or tax credits.
Oracle, stay with me... you blogged about a week ago (when the Administrator's Endorsement was on the Blog) on Local 420's stance as it relates to Boykins--well there you go--there you have it!!!
The committee endorsed Boykins because she demonstrates
"EXPERIENCED, PROVEN LEADERSHIP YOU CAN TRUST."
Take it from me. After all...Niaknows
6/21/2006 7:41 PM
Thanks for clarifying Jones' earlier involvement, Nia.
A Local 420 endorsement will NOT be harmful to the endorsee (presumably Boykins), even if a lot of voters have a bellyfull of that union. Its endorsement has a very favorable impact on one important subset of voters: union teachers. In a 5-candidate contest, getting solid support from some significant niche of voters (especially if the niche includes a substantial number of voters of a different race) is more important than voters who may be turned off, because those turned off are likely to be split up four ways. Missouri doesn't have instant runoff voting (IRV), so a mere plurality wins it, and 30% may be enough to win this election. (Carnahan won with 22% last time.)
This doesn't seal the deal for Boykins by any means, but it puts her back in contention.
6/22/2006 12:50 AM
nia knows my nutts!
6/22/2006 1:29 AM
Oracle:
Go figure, I agree with you again. The support of 420 no more puts her in the lead than does having the cops for Derio Gambaro, or Jeff Smith being endorsed by Sharon Carpenter (former Democratic National Committeewoman), State Rep. Fred Kratky, Democracy for America, 28th Ward Democratic Committee, etc.
6/22/2006 2:04 AM
Did Nia-Know that "Holly" introduced a bill that would keep fat folks fat?
http://www.house.missouri.gov/bills051/bills/HB84.htm
Thats right - HB 84 of 2005
The bill works like this
People sign up for health insurance and given a choice to sign up for "optional coverage for recognized treatments for morbid obesity."
If you pass on it because you are 19 and cut like 50 cent THEY NEVER EVER HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PLAN AGAIN.
IF you get morbidly over weight as you get older THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY.
Great work "Holly"
I'm sure Niaknows
P.S. 8 years as a rep. + 48% atendnce = absent for most of her carear ... not just the last weeks of 2006
6/22/2006 11:31 AM
Nia Nia, Look, those are bills others put up that she supported, but you have to understand how politics works, she has to support some of that stuff to get her stuff passed, but where is her stuff for the are she supports? and you talk about "HB791" but how is that ever inforced when you have a long standing crackhouse two doors down from your office? ? ? and a kid got kills a few months back over there, Im not saying its her fault, Im saying if your in a position to fix stuff, then fix it. Dont start talking to me when you need a vote, talk to me when drug dealers are taking over the neighborhood, talk to me last year about public school problems, talk to me when you have a plan to fix the community who voted you in and when your not looking for votes. And its not just her Im talking about either but like I stated before, I think your paid off or work for her campaign... I stay on Lee near Taylor ave, Ive seen this area become a dump over the past 8 years, and if you live over here you've seen the same thing. Feel me on this, why would I put greater responsiblity in your hands when you havent taken care of the little bit you had. What has she done for us??? I dont see our neighborhood issues addressed in that list, thats how I know she didnt comeup with them, you can also check that site where you got your info and wont see her name as the lead person but a supporter. What does Makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on sexual orientation have to do with the 60th??? do we face those problems here? its great for the state level or citywide but what has she done for the people who put her in office, See its like this, its like living in a dump but making your work life great and coming home to a dump everynight. At some point you've got to care about where you live, if you even care at all...
6/22/2006 3:12 PM
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