New Mexico’s GOP Candidates for Governor are Anti-Educator

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Editorials and Opinions

While Governor Lujan Grisham is Endorsed by the NEA, GOP Candidates Support Policies that Harm Educators

Today, National Education Association-New Mexico (NEA-NM) endorsed Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for a second term, touting her moonshot investment in New Mexico’s education system and her commitment “to meaningful positive outcomes for all students and educators.” The educator workforce union’s endorsement of Lujan Grisham comes as no surprise considering all seven of the GOP candidates for governor are resoundingly anti-teacher and anti-student and seek to revive former Governor Susana Martinez’s failed education agenda.

The field of Republican candidates for governor is awash with anti-educator policies, a Betsy DeVos school-choice mandate, and zero concrete plans to guide New Mexico’s education system. GOP candidate Louie Sanchez has said he’d like “to take the power away from the unions,” specifically referring to educators. As the poster boy for New Mexico’s failed “Right to Work” campaign, Republican candidate Jay Block would strip protections away from educators. Anti-union policies are anti-teacher—and the GOP candidates for governor are proudly supporting policies that harm educators and contribute to educator vacancies.

The GOP candidates for governor are also trying to gut all of Governor Lujan Grisham’s progress on education. Republican candidate for governor, Rebecca Dow has consistently stood in the way of Democratic initiatives to help educators—even voting against raises for New Mexico’s teachers. GOP Candidate Greg Zanetti wants to go even further, suggesting that he would try to get rid of or defund New Mexico’s Public Education Department entirely.

“Teachers, administrators, and school support staff are crucial to New Mexico’s education system. As an NEA member and former teacher, I am appalled at the GOP candidates’ outright rejection of the policies and organizations that support our educator workforce,” said DPNM Chair Jessica Velasquez. “New Mexico needs a governor that supports educators, invests in our schools, and leads the way on education—and none of the GOP candidates are up for the challenge.”

Link to the original document – https://nmdemocrats.org/news/new-mexicos-gop-candidates-for-governor-are-anti-educator/

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