United Teachers of Dade, the largest teachers union in Florida representing over 30,000 educators and professionals, released its list last week of Miami-Dade School Board endorsements for the November general election.
Because three School Board members are leaving, this year’s vote will mark the school board’s biggest shift in representation in the last ten years. The newcomers are respectively vying for seats vacated by current school board representatives Martin Karp, Susie Castillo, and Larry Feldman, all of whom decided not to run for re-election.
And at an important time, as schools — seriously underfunded by the Florida state legislature for decades — change the way they operate in a post-COVID19 world. It’s never been more apparent that we need strong local school boards to ensure we have safe and adequate facilities, equipment and materials.
The endorsed candidates were allegedly chosen based on their track record as public education advocates and community leaders.
In the most unusual race, for District 3 — one that reflects a national trend of educators who have mobilized nationwide — two teachers at Miami Beach High School face each other in the runoff. And the UTD endorsed both candidates Russ Rywell and Lucia Baez-Geller.
“Over the last several years, we have seen how many teachers have chosen to effect change by running for public office and it makes us proud that two of our own have taken that step for their community,” said UTD President Karla Hernandez-Mats in a statement. “Both Mr. Rywell and Ms. Baez-Geller are exemplary educators and we would be proud to have either of them representing District 3 come November.”
Read related: For Miami-Dade School Board, Dennis Moss and five others head to 3 runoffs
That’s only strange because UTD only endorsed Rywell in the first round against four other candidates. But that was then, and this is now, and now they can’t lose, Hernandez-Mats told Ladra.
“It’s actually a very good situation for us,” she said. “In the primary, it was a lot of people and a committee of educators thought Russ Rywell was a better advocate for public education. But it turns out we have two.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind situation we’ve never had.”
Except that they could have endorsed both teacher candidates in the first round, too, and did not, probably because Rywell, with more money, had an economic edge. Maybe they were impressed with how well Baez-Geller did with far less money and are covering their bases.
Baez-Geller has the support of the Teamsters and a couple of other unions, based on contributions they made to her campaign account. She still has a little more than $21,000 of the $61,000 she’s raised (loaning herself $20K), according to the most recent campaign finance reports, which track transactions through Aug. 28.
Rywell, another member of consultant Christian Ulvert‘s stable of hopefuls, has about $35,000 left of the $159K he raised (loaning himself $100,000), but he only raised $1,400 in August compared to Baez-Geller’s $14,000 take in the same time frame.
In the District 5 race, UTD endorses former Miami Springs Councilwoman, Mara Zapata, a Miami-Dade Schools administrator focused on recruiting and mentoring new teachers, over Doral Vice Mayor Christi Fraga, who is undoubtedly the charter school industry choice since her campaign is practically run by David “Disgusting” Custin and State Sen. Manny Diaz, Jr., chief operating officer of Doral College and number one charter school promoter in Tallahassee.
The expansion of charter schools and vouchers for private and parochial schools over the last 10 years is the main drain on tax dollars the UTD and other critics say should go to public education.
“As we continue to witness an unrelenting attack and effort to dismantle public education in Miami-Dade County, it is more important than ever that we have representatives who value investment in our public schools and who understand the vital role they play in creating strong and economically and socially sustainable communities,” Hernandez-Mats added.
But Zapata has a serious cash problem, with only $1,664 left from the $60,500 she raised. Fraga has more than 10 times as much in hand, with $17K of the $78,200 she raised. She’s also done better in August, with $12K in new money compared to $2,600 raised by Fraga in the same 28 days.
UTD gave its endorsement in the high profile District 9 race to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis Moss over ice cream entrepreneur Luisa Santos. Their chosen primary candidate, Nancy Lawther, did not make it into the runoff.
“We talked to both of the candidates and we asked Ms. Santos if she was willing to not take financial help from charter schools and voucher groups,” Hernandez-Mats told Ladra, “and she was not willing to do so. She said she needed the money.”
Read related: Miami-Dade Schools should be smart, honest about COVID19 era education
Meanwhile, Moss is a product of public schools whose three children went to public schools. “There’s no perfect politician,” Hernandez-Mats said. “But he is someone who understands public education and who has dedicated his life to serving communities in need.”
As a county commissioner, Moss has already worked with schools and neighborhood groups in the overlapping district, like the Perrine/Richmond Heights optimist club, to bring programs, she added.
Santos, a first time candidate for anything, raised a respectable $7,145 in August for a total of $72,448 raised since December, and has $11,400 on hand. But Moss, who started fundraising six months later in June, added more than $60K to his $144,500 total in the same time period and he has more than twice as much as she does, heading into the runoff with $23,200 on hand. Of course, he also has professional tree shaker Brian Goldmeier.
“UTD is proud to endorse these four candidates who through their leadership, advocacy and passion for public service have shown a true commitment to providing our community and our children with the high quality public education that M-DCPS and its educators have been nationally recognized for,” Hernandez-Mats said in a statement.
Nobody ran against District 1 School Board Vice Chair Steve Gallon III and voters already chose incumbent District 7 School Board Member Lubby Navarro over two challengers. The school board a $5 billion budget and oversees 392 schools, 345,000 students and 40,000 employees.
The other three seats will be filled Nov. 3.
UTD teachers union endorses 4 Miami-Dade School Board candidates in 3 races added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
