Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1472975
By: Tate Mullen 14 Understanding WEA PACE The WEA Political Action Committee for Education (WEA PACE) works diligently to help elect candidates—both newcomers and incumbents—for local office. Candidate endorsements for your consideration this election cycle are on page 6. Please be sure to reference these endorsements and vote for pro-public education policymakers! Candidates endorsed by WEA PACE must demonstrate that they will support policy supporting public education. Introducing the New and improved WEA PACE Endorsement Process The WEA PACE Council has updated and streamlined the endorsement process for candidates. For new candidates, a WEA PACE endorsement is awarded based upon successful completion of an in- depth candidate questionnaire and an interview with a Candidate Interview Team (CIT). CITs are composed of WEA members from a candidate's district. After an initial vetting by the WEA Lobby Team (WEA President, Executive Director, and Government Relations Director), eligible candidates are scheduled for an interview with a Candidate Interview Team (CIT). Depending on the findings of the CIT interview, a recommendation is made by the CIT for or against endorsing said candidate. This recommendation is carried forward by the WEA Lobby Team for consideration by the WEA PACE Steering Committee and WEA PACE Council. Ultimately, these governance leaders make the final determination for or against WEA PACE endorsement of any new candidate. Incumbent candidate endorsements rely on the WEA Legislative Report Card. The Report Card calculates a lawmaker's score for public education. This score is calculated based on lawmakers' introduction, sponsorship, and voting for or against policy beneficial to public education. If an incumbent has an 80% or higher 2-year rolling average score in support of education on the WEA Legislative Report Card, they are considered a "Public Education Champion" and are automatically eligible for a WEA PACE endorsement (they still must have a completed candidate questionnaire on-file and have completed a CIT interview within the last election cycle). If the incumbent's voting record falls within the 60-79% range, they must complete an interview with the WEA Lobby Team to determine eligibility. Candidates in this tier must improve their voting records in relation to public education to maintain eligibility for WEA PACE endorsement. If a legislator who received this score during the prior election cycle fails to improve their vote for education, they are ineligible for endorsement. Any incumbent with a 59% or lower score is ineligible for endorsement. Implementing the WEA Legislative Report Card this election cycle has streamlined our endorsement process, allowing for greater, targeted resources to be allocated toward races having the biggest potential for positive impact on public education. Getting Involved CITs interview new candidates campaigning for office. You can volunteer to serve on a CIT to help vet candidates in your district. This work is already complete for this election cycle and has culminated in candidate endorsements (available on page 6). Legislative Contact Teams (LCTs) maintain relationships with elected lawmakers currently serving in office. This work is ongoing, and there are always opportunities to get involved in local LCT work. Legislative Contact Teams work with sitting legislators to discuss education issues at the local and state level, provide lawmakers with constituent feedback from education employees, and work closely with the Government Relations Director to build relationships with lawmakers at the local level, ultimately encouraging legislators to uphold the wishes of the constituents they represent by supporting education- friendly policy and safeguarding our public education system with their votes. Get involved in your local LCT today by reaching out to WEA Government Relations Director Tate Mullen at tmullen@wyoea.org. GOTV! Vote for candidates supporting public education and encourage others in your social circle to do the same! This is the single most important way you can support policy that will make our schools better for students and education employees. Wyoming's Primary Election is Tuesday, August 16. Same-day voter registration makes it as easy as showing up at the polls with a valid ID and casting your vote! I know it feels like one more thing on your already-full plate. But your vote makes a difference. Wyoming students need you to cast your vote in support of lawmakers who will support and safeguard public education. Educator support for candidate campaigns doesn't end with a WEA PACE endorsement—it's only the beginning! Pro-public education candidates need your help! You can support them by canvassing, phone banking, fundraising, organizing campaign events, and more! Reach out to WEA Government Relations Director Tate Mullen at tmullen@wyoea. org to learn more about how you can support the best candidates for public education in your district!