Know Before You Vote

To: All Staff

FR: Joyce Powell, President

RE: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

On February 5, New Jersey voters will go to the polls to help select the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates for the 2008 election. Thanks to New Jersey’s earlier position in the nominating calendar and with no overwhelming front runner in either party, our votes will matter more than ever this year.

Since December, NJEA has been asking NEA for information about the candidates’ position on key educational issues. Information on the Democratic candidates (all of whom filled out the NEA questionnaire) has been available for some time. However, only one of the six remaining Republican candidates filled out the questionnaire, leaving NEA to research their public statements to determine their position on the key issues.

On Friday, January 19, NEA provided that information to NJEA. While it was too late to include it in the February Reporter, we have placed the information prominently on the NJEA website.

NJEA and NEA have not endorsed any candidate for either party’s primary; however, we believe it is critical that our members be well-informed. If you receive questions from members, please refer them to njea.org.