NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork, left, announces the overwhelming recommendation of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich for the U.S. Senate in Election 2008.  Retired teacher Sharon Clawson, who taught Begich for three years at Steller Secondary School, also announced her support, based on the leadership qualities she saw early in Begich.

 

NEA-Alaska’s 55-member Political Action Committee on Education (PACE) hasvoted overwhelmingly to recommend Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich as its preferred candidate in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.  

 

“While Sen. Ted Stevens has done much for Alaska, education has never been one of his priorities,” said NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork.  “Mayor Begich, on the other hand, offers our 13,000 members somebody who will fight hard for our issues in Washington, D.C.  He will put education issues at the forefront of his service as a U.S. Senator.

 

"Mark Begich understands public education.  From his father being a teacher down to his current family members who teach Alaska’s children, Mark understands the issues faced by Alaska’s children and public school employees." 

 

Bjork noted that Senator Stevens has steadfastly opposed one of NEA-Alaska’s top priorities:  repeal of the Social Security offset provisions, which penalize teachers and other educators who have paid into Social Security yet cannot draw full benefits upon retirement.

 

Begich, however, has committed to work for repeal of the offsets:  “Many teachers have other employment and are as entitled as any other American to Social Security.  This law is unfair to teachers and is an impediment to recruiting and retaining Alaskan teachers.”

 

Begich knows the No Child Left Behind law does not work for Alaska.  He will work on education policy that allows Alaskans, and not Washington, D.C., to decide what is best for educating Alaska’s children.  According to Bjork, “Senator Stevens has been missing in action on this critical issue for us.”

 

The NEA-Alaska recommendation was quickly followed in Washington, D.C. by that of the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. NEA, which represents 3.2 million teachers and other education employees across the country, has targeted Alaska as a state of change, and NEA-Alaska expects to receive resources to assist in this important election.