Anne Arundel teachers union takes historic step into Annapolis council race
For the first time, the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County has endorsed candidates in the upcoming Annapolis City Council elections.
The union traditionally makes endorsements for Anne Arundel’s federal representatives, the County Council, the county executive and the Board of Education. The organization says it is stepping into the city council race because the decisions made by it affect the quality of life for students, their families and educators.
“The city overlaps with our students, our schools and our educators who live there,” said TAAAC President Kristina Korona, who was a teacher at Annapolis High School before working full-time for the union.
Although the City Council does not make decisions related to Anne Arundel County School’s budget, many policy decisions affect students. In the Annapolis High School Cluster, for example, many students depend on city transportation to get to after-school activities. The council’s education body also regularly makes recommendations to the county and state boards of education.
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Their choices are Harry Huntley for Ward 1, Karma O’Neill for Ward 2, Keanuú Smith-Brown for Ward 3 and Brooks Schandelmeier for Ward 5.
All the endorsed candidates are Democrats, but so far, no Republicans have filed to run for City Council or mayor. The deadline to file is July 28.
Huntley, O’Neill and Schandelmeier are incumbents.
Huntley is facing former Larry Hogan administration official Ron Gunzburger and Ben Bramsen, senior regional director of a mathematics learning center
“Nobody is more invested in our collective future than teachers. To me, having their support means that I’m the candidate who can best deliver a brighter future for Annapolis,” Huntley said in a statement.
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