The Maryland State Teachers Association’s decision not to endorse a Democratic candidate for governor has had little effect on the two contenders, despite the loss of the bragging rights usually associated with such support.
The union’s members failed to give either Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley or Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan a supermajority of the vote — and the endorsement — in a meeting Saturday. But the union did promise its support for the primary victor in September.
State Democratic Party Executive Director Derek Walker called the vote a victory for the party anyway.
“Maryland’s teachers roundly rejected Bob Ehrlich and his abysmal record on education,” Walker said. “Democrats have two superior candidates for governor who are champions of Maryland’s children and Maryland schools.”
The teachers union endorsed Ehrlich’s rival, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, in 2002, and has historically stood behind Democratic candidates. Bo Harmon, spokesman for the Ehrlich campaign, said the governor chose not to court the teachers association this year and instead decided to “let the voters draw their own conclusions.”
Both Democratic campaigns said they viewed the union’s move as a victory rather than a setback.
“I have fought alongside Maryland’s teachers and education support professionals for more than a decade to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, receives a quality education,” Duncan said. “Today’s strong vote is validation of my commitment to putting education first.”
The O’Malley campaign, whose candidate has struggled to salvage a sinking city schools system during his term in office, also expressed confidence for the future.
“Today’s vote proves that Maryland’s teachers understand that Martin O’Malley will be agovernor that works in partnership with them to fully fund Thornton, reduce class size and give teachers the resources they need to do what they do best: teach,” said Hari Sevugan, spokesman for O’Malley’s campaign.
