I want to take just a moment and talk about the vision and purpose of this group. I am not only a teacher, but also a military veteran, a gun-owner, and pro-life, and you know what? Absolutely none of that is pertinent here. Teachers and students have been getting screwed by the state my entire career, to the point that the legislature has turned schools and our children into a financial milk cow and a political pawn for their own purposes. This group is about finally fighting back.

There are 1.2 million members of TRS in this state. If we could get even 10% of that number to vote as a block, we can get the legislature's undivided attention. This group is where we can discuss issues and candidates (as we are doing now) and take action as one...including our voting.

There may be times when the group is divided on a candidate or an issue, but if the overwhelming majority of the group agrees to vote a certain way, I will vow to put my differences aside and maintain solidarity with the group in order to ensure enough political leverage to accomplish our goal...better education for our children, better work environment for our teachers. I will leave my political affiliation at the door, and until this state has regained its sanity in regards to public education, education will be the issue which drives my vote. Will you do the same?