The board of directors for the Vermont teachers union backed Democrat Sue Minter for governor Wednesday.
“Sue Minter will be a governor to move our state forward,” said Martha Allen, president of the Vermont-National Education Association.
Minter and Republican candidate Phil Scott participated in a debate the union hosted Aug. 22 and filled out questionnaires. The Vermont-NEA said both were also asked to participate in an interview with the union’s board but that only Minter did.
A spokesperson for Scott’s campaign, Brittney Wilson, said an “unintentional scheduling conflict” prevented him from meeting when the board wanted to.
During the Aug. 22 debate, Minter and Scott agreed on most education issues, including that teachers have a right to strike.
Minter welcomed the support of Vermont’s largest union, which counts 12,000 members, and said she wants to expand early childhood education.
“As a working mom who has volunteered in the schools and coached youth soccer, I understand the importance of our next generation and will make education a priority as the next governor,” she said.
“I will fight for quality affordable child care and early education,” she added.
Minter has proposed giving recent Vermont high school graduates the opportunity to attend the Community College of Vermont or Vermont Technical College for free for two years.
Earlier the Vermont-NEA announced its support for Progressive David Zuckerman for lieutenant governor, Democrat Beth Pearce for state treasurer, Democrat TJ Donovan for attorney general, Democrat/Progressive Doug Hoffer for state auditor and Democrat Jim Condos for secretary of state.
