Despite the candidates' similar stances on improving education in southeastern Ohio, Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, recently received the endorsements of the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers, beating out Democratic opponent Pat Lang.
Changes in school funding, particularly in economically depressed rural areas like southeastern Ohio, are needed to level the educational playing field, both candidates said.
The current funding system is based on local property taxes, giving areas with higher property values an advantage, and a fairer system needs to be implemented, Lang said.
A place like Athens County
where property values are low has a harder time funding schools he said.
Although District 92, composed of Athens, Meigs, Morgan and Washington counties, receives more state and federal revenue per student compared to the statewide average to make up for low property values, there is a gap.
Total property tax collected per pupil in 2002-2003 was $1,662.52 in Morgan Local School District, compared with the statewide average of $4,066.54, according to the Ohio Department of Education. Athens City School District collected $4,590.94 per pupil, and Meigs Local School District collected $1,221.75 per pupil for the same year.
Stewart has supported a number of education-related bills during his first term, including a $428 million increase included in the state budget for spending in Ohio schools. Total spending for education in the state was $7.9 billion in 2002-2003, according to the ODE.
Stewart is currently working on a school funding reform bill to be discussed when the House reconvenes in October, he said. Both the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers have expressed support for the bill.
Although neither group endorsed Stewart in 2002, representatives from both organizations said Stewart's voting record and involvement in education issues influenced their decision to choose the incumbent rather than Lang. The Ohio Education Association endorsed Democrat Jim Pancake in 2002.
Since Stewart's been in the House
he's reached out to the labor and education communities
said Darold Johnson, director of legislative and political action for the Ohio Federation of Teachers.
Stewart has been receptive to the federation's ideas, even when they are contrary to his party's, Johnson said. It is also important for education groups to have as much Republican support as possible, as they are the majority at the state level, he said.
Although Johnson said the Ohio Federation of Teachers has endorsed Democratic candidates in political races more times than not
the decision is made on an individual basis.
For this year's general election, the Ohio Education Association has endorsed 16 Republicans and 51 Democrats running for the House; in the Senate, four Republicans and six Democrats have been endorsed, said Deidre Brown, a lobbyist for the group.
Both groups endorsed Democrat Terry Anderson for state senate this year. His opponent, Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, failed to return the Ohio Federation of Teachers' endorsement questionnaire, Johnson said.
Although Democrats overwhelmingly won Ohio Education Association endorsements before 1990, the number of Republicans receiving endorsements has increased as party policies have changed, she said.
Stewart has a very good record working with our members
Brown said.
Brown also echoed Johnson's statement about choosing candidates based on individual merit rather than party affiliation.
The screening and interview process for candidates hoping to receive endorsements is non-partisan, Brown said. The endorsement decisions are made by a group of 25 association members from school districts within the legislative district where the candidate is running.
I'm really
really proud to have their endorsement
Stewart said.
When it comes to solving southeastern Ohio's education problems, Brown said she believes that Stewart's open communication and support of the Ohio Education Association's ideas made him the best man for the job.
It's a very bi-partisan issue. There's no silver bullet. But I think he has a good idea of what issues need to be addressed
said Brown. I think he's on the right track
personally.
Lang disagrees, and said lowering the cost of higher education would also be a goal of his first term.
Jimmy is part of a larger problem in a broken system that keeps giving us bad results
