I Decide: ’08 Election

Our Association’s Presidential Candidate Recommendation Process

Last summer NEA President Reg Weaver invited all the announced candidates to participate in our Association’s presidential candidate recommendation process. He asked them to participate by answering NEA’s written questionnaire about public education and participating in a personal interview.

Eight candidates completed this process and also spoke to 10,000 Association members at the July 2007 NEA Representative Assembly: Sen. Joe Biden; Sen. Hillary Clinton; Sen. Chris Dodd; former Sen. John Edwards; former Gov. Mike Huckabee; Congressman Dennis Kucinich; Sen. Barack Obama; and Governor Bill Richardson.

Last fall President Weaver recommended a list of acceptable presidential candidates to the NEA Fund for Children & Public Education, NEA’s political committee. To be considered “acceptable,” a candidate must complete the NEA questionnaire on public education issues, be interviewed by the NEA president, and support a majority of NEA’s positions on the questionnaire.

In mid-December 2007, the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education approved seven presidential candidates as “acceptable” to our Association based on their questionnaires, interviews, and support of our positions.

The seven acceptable candidates were Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson. The NEA Fund determined that Mike Huckabee was not acceptable.

Since that time, many candidates have dropped out of the race. CEA did not support any candidate in either major party for the February 5 Precinct Caucuses.

Colorado’s Primary Election is August 12. There may be an NEA presidential candidate recommendation for that election.

For the November 2008 General Election, the Association members who attend the NEA Representative Assembly in July 2008 may make a presidential candidate recommendation to NEA members.

No NEA dues are spent on any activities for or contributions to presidential candidates. The money that is used for this purpose comes from individual member contributions collected separately from dues by the NEA Fund.