FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2020
Colorado Education Association Congratulates Early Victors
Many races still to be called
DENVER – After a long campaign hampered by the effects of a global pandemic, the 39,000 members of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), along with the rest of the nation, await to learn the results of the presidential election. Over the coming days, and possibly weeks, the CEA pledges to assist in any way we can to ensure that every vote is counted and that the United States swears in an administration elected by and for the people.
“Tonight and over the coming days, our democracy will be tested,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“Now is the time for our country to come together to ensure that all votes are counted.”
CEA members congratulate former Gov. John Hickenlooper for his election to the United States Senate. Senator-elect Hickenlooper will bring leadership to the Senate by bringing Coloradans together and putting Colorado students first. We look forward to working with Senator-elect Hickenlooper and thank him for his unwavering commitment to students, educators, families and labor.
Congratulations to CEA recommended federal candidates Rep. Diane DeGette (CD-1), Rep. Joe Neguse (CD-2), Rep. Jason Crow (CD-6) and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CD-7) on their wins tonight. We look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure our public schools are welcoming to all students and to ensure that all students have access to great public schools, regardless of the zip code in which they live. We anxiously await the results of CEA recommended candidate, Diane Mitsch Bush’s CD-3 race.
While we await the results of many of Colorado’s ballot measures, Colorado voters agreed that it was time to repeal the Gallagher Amendment. As a result, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars will remain in Colorado public schools next year; funding desperately needed in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic and more than a decade of K-12 budget deficits.
Voters also passed Proposition EE because they recognize the need to direct additional revenue to public education, including K-12 education and support for rural schools, the expansion of preschool programs, affordable housing, eviction assistance, tobacco education and health care. We look forward to working with our state legislators to maximize the use of these funds for Colorado students.
We are happy that voters chose families over corporate interests with the passing of Proposition 118. Many of our members and their students’ families now won’t have to choose between caring for their families and their job.
CEA congratulates those who were successful in passing more than $1.5 billion worth of local mill levy and bond measures across the state. Too many of our local school districts are forced to go to voters each year to make up for budget shortfalls. With many districts still struggling to recover from the Great Recession and now suffering the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we know that we need to come together as a state to find creative and sustainable ways to improve public education funding. When we come together, we make the way for a better future for all Coloradans.
“We are witnessing our democratic process unfold,” said Baca-Oehlert.“We’re so proud of our members and their efforts during this election and for the work they do every day to educate the students of Colorado.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is a membership-based organization that represents 39,000 Colorado educators. The CEA promise to our students and communities is that the members of the Association will lead the way in guaranteeing every student access to the best public education. By working collectively with all education stakeholders, we will provide the best public education for every student and assure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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