FYI - Brownwood Teachers

Posted on Sat, Apr. 01, 2006

Perry opponents take their campaigns to teachers
JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press
AUSTIN - The top three candidates vying to unseat Gov. Rick Perry took turns bashing the Republican to Texas teachers Saturday, with each pledging they could do a better job with education.
Democratic nominee Chris Bell and independent candidates Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman spoke to the Association of Texas Professional Educators' annual convention, peppering their speeches with jabs at the governor.
"(Perry) has made an awful mess of things," Bell said. "He's proven he can't lead a silent prayer."
Perry was invited but declined to attend because of a scheduling conflict. Spokeswoman Kathy Walt said Perry was in Texas but out of town on personal business.
Saturday was Sen. Frank Madla of San Antonio's chance to serve the traditional post of governor for a day, a time when sitting governors usually leave town, Walt said.
Perry's opponents all laid out broad-stroke education platforms with common themes: pay raises for teachers, more money and wiser spending in the classroom and getting educators involved in state policy.
Bell called for a $6,000 across-the-board pay raise. Strayhorn went for $4,000 with guaranteed increases every two years. Friedman promised a raise but no specific amount.
Each said the state placed too much emphasis on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, a test of reading and math ability, in measuring performance. They also praised teachers for their work.
"You all are heroes of mine, and I ain't got many heroes," Friedman said.
Bell and Strayhorn said they reject private school vouchers. Strayhorn pledged to veto "any plan that puts a single dollar into any voucher program, period."
All of them got a standing ovation from most of the crowd.
Perry has called a special legislative session on school finance to begin April 17. The current tax structure has been ruled unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court, and the state has until June 1 to fix it. If not, money to schools will be cut off.
The governor's plan would reduce property taxes, create a new broad-based business tax and raise the cigarette tax to pay for schools and meet the court mandate.
Three previous special sessions Perry has called since 2004 have failed to fix the school funding system.
Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black said the governor has met with lawmakers, business leaders and parent-teacher groups to build support for his plan.
The other candidates "have offered complaints and criticism without price tags," Black said. "That's not leadership."
Saturday's convention was an important campaign stop for the three who were there. The association is the largest teachers group in Texas with more than 107,000 members, said spokesman Eric Allen.
Bell, Friedman and Strayhorn all set up campaign booths to hand out literature and bumper stickers. Strayhorn and Friedman also collected signatures they need to get on the November ballot.
Barbie Ryza, a high school chemistry teacher from Cameron, signed petitions for both candidates. She signed Strayhorn's first, which by law would be the one that counts.
"I love independent candidates," Ryza said. "It's what America is all about."
Several people in the crowd held up "Strayhorn for Gov." signs during her speech, delivered in her typical rapid-fire, sharp-tongued style. Afterward, she worked the crowd near her booth, signing autographs on posters and T-shirts.
Greg Signall, who teaches Spanish as a second language in Mesquite, said he considers himself a conservative voter and wanted to hear from Perry, although he didn't think the governor would get a very good reception.
"If he really has a vision, no matter how many boos or heckles he would get here, he has to come in and stand before his critics," Signall said.
Strayhorn mocked Perry for not addressing the teachers group.
"I want to debate him anytime, anyplace, anywhere," Strayhorn said. "He ought to be here today to let the people hear where we are in education."
source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/14242139.htm