TO: Board of Directors Local Association Presidents
FROM: Catherine A. Boudreau, President Anne Wass, Vice President
RE: Shannon O'Brien for Governor Chris Gabrieli for Lieutenant Governor
Date: 10/1/02

MTA's member-elected Candidate Recommendation Committee met on September 19 and voted to recommend Shannon O'Brien for Governor and Chris Gabrieli for Lieutenant Governor. The Board of Directors concurred with the recommendation. MTA has launched a campaign in support of O'Brien and Gabrieli. Educators and students have a lot at stake in this Gubernatorial election, and the team that best represents educational issues is the O'Brien-Gabrieli Team.

Shannon O'Brien and Chris Gabrieli will:
Seek input from educators on policies and programs we know help our students learn and succeed. Protect gains made in our public schools. Pledge to increase the state's commitment to public higher education. Support honoring the negotiated higher education contracts. Improve public schools by providing quality professional development. Reduce class sizes in the early grades. Expand after-school and summer school programs.

Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey will:
Roll back the revenue package that the legislature passed. Not protect the gains needed to keep our schools strong. Not ensure that our public schools, colleges and the University have the necessary resources for our students to have opportunities for their future.

The O'Brien-Gabrieli Team will involve educators in the education debate

Shannon O'Brien and Chris Gabrieli will protect the gains we have made, they will ensure that our students have opportunities for the future, and they will work with us in setting policies for public education - preK-through graduate school.

MTA's campaign is off and running, and our Regional Grassroots Organizing Committee members will be contacting you to get members involved in phone banks and other activities. Go to our web site to get updates on the campaign: massteacher.org.