California Teachers Endorse Mark DeSaulnier for State Assembly

DeSaulnier has Now Been Endorsed By All Major Education Groups.

Martinez – The California Teachers Association (CTA) State Council of Education, representing more than 335,000 members, consisting of teachers and other education employees in California's more than 1,000 school districts, endorsed Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier in his bid for California’s 11th Assembly District (AD) seat.

Our schools and students need hard-working, experienced leaders like Mark DeSaulnier in Sacramento,” said Barbara Kerr of the CTA. “California’s teachers are proud to back Mark, a candidate who will work on long-term solutions to our state’s chronic school funding problems. Mark has always been a strong advocate for education and was a strong voice against the governor’s misguided special election. We look forward to continuing to work with Mark in the Assembly.”

CTA’s state council is comprised of nearly 800 democratically elected teacher representatives from across the state and meets quarterly in Los Angeles to make policy for the organization. CTA is the state's largest representative of education employees, representing employees of schools, colleges and universities.

I am proud to have the support of California’s teachers,” DeSaulnier said. “Our students deserve more than broken promises and bad policy, like the No Child Left Behind Act, especially when the schools already face severely restricted resources. Using my experience, I will work with CTA and the other education organizations that are supporting me, to find real solutions to the problems our education system is facing.”

Mark DeSaulnier also recently received the endorsement of the California Federation of Teachers.

CTA and CFT join the California School Employees Association; the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges; and the California Faculty Association in supporting Mark DeSaulnier for Assembly.

DeSaulnier was appointed to serve as Supervisor for the Contra Costa County District IV in March 1994. He was re-elected in 1998. In 2002, he retained his seat with 80 percent of the vote, the highest percentage recorded in a contested election in the history of the county.

Before becoming Supervisor, he served as the Mayor of Concord, the largest city in Contra Costa County, and as a City Councilmember from 1991 to 1993. DeSaulnier has been appointed to many regional boards and commissions, including the California Air Resources Board, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Assembly District 11 is currently represented by Joseph Canciamilla. The district includes portions of Contra Costa County.