Maryland School Teachers Endorse O’Malley/Brown

Association says O’Malley is the only candidate that can be trusted on education

ESSEX, MD (July 25, 2006) – Today, the Maryland State Teachers Association resoundingly endorsed Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown in this year’s election for Governor and Lt. Governor at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County. In offering their endorsement, the MSTA, which represents 65,000 school teachers throughout the state, cited O’Malley and Brown’s unwavering commitment to education as the top priority for the state.

“We are especially honored by the support of Maryland’s teachers because they are in the best position to see the challenges our schools face and see which candidate can best help our kids achieve their full potential,� said O’Malley. “I am proud to know that Maryland’s school teachers support our vision for a stronger public education system that recruits and retains the best teachers, reduces class size and gives our students the resources they need to succeed.�

For more information on the O’Malley/Brown vision on education, please visit http://www.martinomalley.com/leadership/527.

O’Malley and Brown were joined by local public school teachers, support professionals, and Pat Foerester, President of the MSTA. “The choice in this election was clear – Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown are the only candidates that have shown a record of progress against the toughest challenges, and they are truly committed to making education a priority,� said Forester. “Bob Ehrlich has failed to live up to his promises and failed to help teachers make progress.�

Ehrlich opposed the Bridge to Excellence in Public Education Act, commonly referred to as “Thornton�, and, according to one report, Ehrlich’s decision was the “most irresponsible vote in Maryland history.� [Washington Post 1/19/06, Baltimore Sun 1/12/06] Ehrlich then refused to sign the bill into law, and he has now failed to fully fund it. [Baltimore Sun 3/6/04, Washington Post 1/27/06]

“As a parent, I’m incredibly disturbed that Governor Ehrlich refused to sign Thornton, and then he used a loophole in the law to not fully fund it,� said Jennifer Jackson, a parent of two from Catonsville who spoke at the endorsement. “You shouldn’t be using loopholes to shortchange our kids.�

In accepting their support, Anthony Brown commended Maryland’s school teachers, saying they are able to “do [their] job in spite of a governor who used a loophole to fail to fully fund education, while at the same time protecting tax loopholes for the giant corporate special interests.�

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