Election Season Tips and Reminders

Dr. Pam Clinkenbeard, WATG Advocacy Committee
As you have probably noticed from the incessant television campaign ads, it’s election season again! The primaries for state and national elections were held on August 14 and the general election is Tuesday Nov. 6.  The races that have the most impact on Wisconsin schools are governor, state Senate, and state Assembly.  (School board elections are of course very important and have the most direct impact in individual districts, but those elections are typically the first Tuesday in April. While we’re on the subject, make a note to invite one or more school board members to an advanced learner event this fall, or share with them some examples of advanced work that your children or students have created!)
 
Of course the big governor’s race that is garnering national attention is between incumbent Governor Scott Walker and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers.  You can see their stated positions on education at their campaign websites, https://www.tonyevers.com/ and https://www.scottwalker.com/.  For more objective coverage, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin will provide candidate profiles: https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin. 
 
Not sure who represents you in the state Senate and Assembly, or who’s running in your district? You’re not alone!  Simply go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ and enter your HOME address under “Who Are My Legislators?” to see who currently represents you, then do a search of their names to see if they are in a race for the Nov. 6 election.  (ALL 99 Assembly representatives are up for election unless they are retiring or are running unopposed.  State Senators are elected for four-year terms, so about half of the 33 will be running this fall.)  Make the time to attend a town hall meeting or debate, or call or email the candidate’s campaign office (or their state office, if an incumbent) to ask about their support for education funding in general and gifted education, talent development, or advanced programming in particular.  (Use whichever term is most common in your district.)  
 
To see who is currently on the state Senate Education Committee, Assembly Education Committee, and Joint Finance Committee (all very important for education), go to the links below.  Committee memberships will change in January 2019 for the new two-year legislative session, but in many cases state legislators stay with the same committees for more than one term.  If you live in the district of a member of one of these committees, it is particularly important that you make your views on gifted education known to them.  If you would like to learn more or to help WATG’s advocacy efforts on behalf of gifted students and gifted education, please contact WATG advocacy co-chairs Deb Kucek or Pam Clinkenbeard through watg@watg.org and/or attend the parent-focused advocacy sessions at the fall WATG conference Nov. 1-2 at the Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells (http://www.watg.org/).
 
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/committees/assembly/1670
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/committees/senate/1750
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/committees/joint/1680
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