KNEA, KPAC issue statement on candidate recommendation process
KNEA committed to upholding union values
The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) and the Kansas Political Action Committee (KPAC) are currently engaged in a thorough and thoughtful process to recommend a candidate for Governor of Kansas, as well as candidates in the Kansas House, Kansas Senate, Kansas State Board of Education and other statewide offices.
KPAC is a member-driven committee composed of active KNEA members from all 40 Kansas Senate Districts, along with one representative from the Aspiring Educators category and one representative from the KNEA-Retired category. This diverse representation helps ensure that the voices of educators at every stage of their careers are included in the recommendation process.
As a union, KNEA empowers educators to organize for the strong public schools our communities across Kansas deserve. We are committed to upholding our core values of equitable opportunity, a just society, democracy, professionalism, partnership and solidarity and collective action on behalf of Kansas students and public educators. Our recommendation process is designed to identify candidates who demonstrate a genuine commitment to public education; who respect the role educators play in strengthening our communities, our state, and our nation; and who understand and support union values.
We also believe that union values are rooted in working together - not in using union membership or association as a political advantage over others. Any candidate who seeks to elevate themselves by boasting about or leveraging their union membership status to diminish another candidate does not reflect the values of solidarity that are fundamental to our union.
Membership in KNEA, at any level, does not automatically entitle a candidate to a KPAC recommendation.
KNEA and KPAC will continue their recommendation process with integrity and fairness, guided by the perspectives of educators across Kansas, our shared commitment to public education, and a belief in strong union values.
