Oct 28, 2010

WTU Election Results

Election Results
Nathan Saunders slate 334 votes
Hold Over President Parker's slate 313 votes
Davis slate 196 votes
Bergfalk slate 38 votes

Candi Peterson, Blogger in residence and candidate for WTU General Vice President

Last night our slate won! It was an exciting evening for the Saunders slate. Parker, hold over WTU President never showed up to watch the election results. The WTU Constitution requires that the winner receives more than 50% percent majority of the total votes cast. If none of the candidates receive more than 50% of the total votes cast, then there must be a run-off election between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes. In this case, Nathan Saunders received 334 votes and Hold Over WTU President Parker received 313 votes; therefore, there will be a run-off election between our two slates. The challenge ballots submitted by those who recently retired, resigned or were terminated were not counted.

We will need your continued support in the upcoming run-off election. Thanks for all of your support so far.

32 comments:

Lindsey said...

Congratulations, Candi!

Although the low turnout of voters put you in a run-off contest with GP, I believe your slate will be victorious once again.

We want that bum out of office!

Now teachers, how can we call ourselves educators and we don't even take the opportunity to weigh in on the path or our profession by voting? We pay the WTU for the right to vote and what do we do? Throw away that right. Come on--get with the program......Don't think the district is watching what we do--

Anonymous said...

Lets do it folks. Vote to take back "our" union,

Anonymous said...

Why would so few teachers care to vote in this important election?

Even fewer than the contract?

What is happening?

Won't it be easy for Parker to mobilize to win the runoff?

Unknown said...

It is appalling that the teachers did not vote in full force. You deserve whatever they dish out to you.

Never once since I have had the right to vote have I not exercised my right to vote. This says a great deal about your character.

Rhee was brought here because of the apathetic attitudes of the union and teachers.

Good luck Nathan and Candi. You guys have worked so very hard. It will not be long.

Please bring Mr. Bergfalk along. He has attributes that can greatly help the union. We must be as strong as possible to defeat the foe.
Grezelda Dyson

Anonymous said...

Parker can't win this. Ask it think it and imagine it and its yours Candi and Nathan. I am rounding teachers up to vote today for Saunders slate.

EFavorite said...

Congrats - wish it were final and hope you get out the vote for the run-off.

Why were the retired, etc. votes not counted? Wasn't that part of the deal?

ed notes online said...

From those of us battling the undemocratic union regime in NYC, best of luck Candi and Nathan. One thing we know: the teachers in Washington will be getting a union run on democratic principles. There is a low turnout in NYC also - less than 25% of the teachers. Lack of democracy leads to apathy. It is like a disease running through your body - it weakens you for attacks by the Rhee/Klein ed deformers. When your own union leadership works like a cancer within the body there can be little resistance to the attacks.
Norm

Anonymous said...

I was informed that SIX (6) veteran teachers (20+ years of experience) did not receive ballots in the mail. Coincidence? I think not! I am certain Parker deliberately deleted their names from the mailing list, thinking they would vote against him. Now, if this many teachers at one school were omitted, I wonder how many such veterans were omitted system wide?

Parker gets greasier by the minute and obviously has no limit to how low he will stoop to keep his job. Parker must go!

didn't vote said...

why weren't the votes of terminated/recently retired teachers counted? Also, I apologize for not voting this time, but i will definitely vote in the runoff. maybe teachers have been as disheartened as i am. i am planning to exit DCPS next year if things don't greatly improve at my school this year. in the meantime, my attitude has been one of distancing myself more and more from this draining system. that included yesterday's election.

Anonymous said...

Why were the votes of persons who were on board as of 6/30 not counted?

Michael said...

Teachers didn't vote because there is no "None of the Above" option.

Anonymous said...

Please clarify who is eligible to vote, my school has a lot of new teachers, can they vote or not. How do we vote in the run-off.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

You guys have your work cut out, not that our teachers deserve your support or hard work. I can't believe that teachers did not vote when it was so simple to fill out a ballot and drop it in mail, no stamp required. I find it totally deplorable! They must be sad Rhee is leaving.

Anonymous said...

Candi, Many of us didn't get the ballots when they were first sent out. I get everything else sent out but I didn't get the ballot. I call the number given on Thursday morning requesting a ballot. The ballot did not get to me until Tues.(10/26/10). I still filled it out and sent it in Knowing that it was not going to reach the office in time, but hoping that it would by some chance be counted. Today when I got home there was a message on my phone stating that my last name was not clear on the phone and this was the reason why I got the ballot so late. What's this all about????

Anonymous said...

Candi and Nathan, you will get my vote. It's sad that some DCPS teachers don't seem to care to vote Parker out of office. Kaya Henderson is a Rhee fan and will try to continue the current reign of terror. However, what she does not know, is that God Always has the Final Word, and he is on Candi and Nathan's side. I am confident in knowing, that your slate will be victorious! Go Candi and Nathan!

Derheeiere said...

The obvious reason that ballots were allegedly not received is that they were allegedly not sent because of one of the typical, predictable District of Columbia plots and conspiracies. This town runs on such deep suspicions. Lord knows, teachers at all effectiveness levels must be in on this, but some of them seemed to have forgotten to vote, too. In any case, congratulations are in order.

Sheila H. Gill said...

Congratulations to Candi and Nathan for winning the WTU Election!! Consider the first vote as the "WTU Primary Election" and the final vote the " WTU General Election!" It is your season to be the next WTU Administration team and the victory is yours!! Continue moving forward to motivate our DCPS colleagues!! Enough is Enough!! George MUST GO! Special Note to All WTU Members: Please vote for the Saunders Slate in the WTU General Election in November 2010!! Your vote counts!!!

Anonymous said...

I had the same issue. I received information about the election, but I never received a ballot. After reading other people's posts I am beginning to think it was not an accident. How do we vote in the run-off?

Candi Peterson said...

Ballots for the run off election will be mailed out in the early to mid part of November. You have a two week window to mail your ballot in but please don't wait to send your ballots in. I would suggest that you call the American Arbitration Association early if you don't get a ballot.

In the first election, I posted AAA's number and what to do if you did not receive a ballot. Make sure you read The Washington Teacher and I will keep you updated on what's going on with elections.

Anonymous said...

So, who is verifying the membership list? We must ensure that ONLY/ALL those persons who were WTU members when the election was SUPPOSED to occur (April 30?) received (should receive) a ballot. Are you listening/reading, Al Squire?

Nathan, handle your business!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Fenty, Rhee, George are all gone! Randi is next! LOL! Thank you GOD for removing these unrighteous people!

Jerome Brocks said...

Let's say goodbye to the "Three Amigos" Adrian Fenty, Michelle Rhee and George Parker. Get your hat, your coat and leave my city!!!!

Anonymous said...

Candi,

I really don't understand why the members wait til the last minute to make sure that they have their ballots.

The same thing happens in NYC. Do you know how many don't get to cast their votes because they decided to call AAA the day before the ballots are due.

I'm sorry, but change can only happen if the members are more proactive. If you want to get rid of a present union leadership, then act quickly. Can't complain if the members are inert in invoking their rights. There are too many passive union members who are usually the biggest complainers. Here's a chance to vote out Parker, but the members are just sitting there waiting until they become the next victim of unfair, questionable layoffs or termination. Washington teachers for godsake - WAKE UP!!!!!

I live in the Bronx and I am an active UFT member. I don't take things for granted and I strike when the rod is hot. When there are elections, I can't wait for my ballot so that I may vote in a timely fashion.

I have tremendous faith in Nathan and Candi are going to turn tides for the WTU. We, teachers across the nation, cannot wait for the Obama change that he promised. We need to take control of what "change" truly means.

Good luck to Nathan and Candi!

Anonymous said...

I want to say CONGRATS!!! The best slate won. Now I hope that all those that voted for Liz's slate and Chris Bergfalk's slate will join with your slate for the run-off. But I must address the teachers. As someone that could not vote but wanted to I am very disappointed that you all DID NOT VOTE!! With all that you deal with on the job how could you not care enough to vote. All you had to do was drop it in the mail, postage was free. It takes more effort to log on to the comppouter go to the blog and complain than it took to vote. Come on people we can do better. Everyone mail your ballot and take a friend with you to the mailbox. We know what has happened with George if we give him three more years with the spineless executive board that he assembled we will all be desttroyed. Don't be complacent because Rhee is gone, she laid her foundation and "her team" is still in place. VOTE VOTE VOTE!! Get your friends ballots and Vote The Smart Choice" Saunders/Peterson slate

Candi Peterson said...

Reply to Anonymous @ 10:21 AM

Since AFT is now the administrator and handling WTU elections they are not utilizing the WTU elections committee as indicated in the WTU constitution/by-laws. My understanding from Al Squire is that they are using the names of WTU members on their AFT list as well as names supplied by holdover president Parker and verifying it against Union dues reports.

Candi Peterson said...

Reply to Efavorite

Retired, resigned and terminated teachers votes were not counted as part of the tally because there weren't enough to make up the difference in the outcome of the election.

Did the coward try to weasel out again? said...

Let’s bring the glory home. Congratulations for a job well done. You ran a very classy campaign. Experience matters and quality showed. All the teachers who held out are now absolutely going with the Saunders Slate. The AFT is crooked. One of the Davis Slate teachers told me about their AFT troubles. It seems like this election has been going on forever. Norm from New York statement is very believable. It appears low turnout is common for AFT unions. The reason is probably because there is no sense of membership involvement in AFT. You have these union bigwigs at the top like Weingarten who is as much of a sham teacher as Michelle Rhee. She is making all the decisions. How many times do members have to take AFT to court to get things done which should be pro forma. Nathan obviously has spent a fortune in legal expenses just to run. But for the Saunders Slate we would have to deal with George Parker again. That would be a crying shame. All of these people are thieves, liars and pimps of working teachers. Candi, I want you and Nathan to be mindful of these facts and not get caught up after you win. The real teachers will support you not these fly by nighters of education policy who have never taught. All of this definitely ties back to George Parker. Some teachers were talking about Parker tried to get the US Court to stop counting of the Ballots minutes before the counting. Is this true? Spill the Tea, Candi! What a bizarre act after all that has been done.

Marginally Effective said...

Why no comments to Friday's big news: that the DC Superior Court threw out the lawsuit filed by WTU to reinstate the teachers terminated due to budget issues disclosed by Michelle Rhee?

In a WashPost article, V. Gray says that teachers terminated in that action, if they are rated at least Effective, should be first in line for any rehiring.

It remains clear and consistent that Mr. Gray, understandably, has no intention of rehiring these individuals except if they apply for open positions and are effective.

Any reaction from union officials?

Anonymous said...

Please verify who is eligible to vote. Thanks.

Candi Peterson said...

Anyone who was an active WTU member as June 30, 2010 is eligible to vote in the runoff election. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters on November 15 and the deadline for returning ballots will be November 30.

Candi Peterson said...

Reply to Marginally effective:

It is my understanding that the WTU law firm was unable to find anything in the DCPS documents to substantiate their original claim that the layoffs were contrived. I wonder how did they go about reviewing these lengthy documents. It is a travesty that Parker and the WTU law firm threw in the towel on laid off teachers and school personnel. It is amazing that Parker was a no show at Friday's court hearing. My hope is that once the Saunders slate gets elected that we could have another law firm review the merits of this case.