WEAC Recommendation Process for Political Candidates

From start to finish, members like you control the recommendation process. Every election cycle, dozens of WEAC members spend hundreds of hours meeting candidates for public office, reviewing their records, and voting on recommendations.

For statewide elections:

1. Members set the legislative priorities.

Each year, hundreds of delegates to the WEAC Representative Assembly establish legislative priorities. Based on these priorities, members of the Legislative Committee recommend a biennial legislative agenda to the Board of Directors.

2. Members analyze the agendas of candidates.

A questionnaire on the legislative agenda is sent to each candidate prior to their interviews with the WEAC Political Action Committee (WEAC-PAC), which has 21 members who represent all parts of the state. The candidate questionnaire responses are used to determine his or her positions on WEAC's legislative priorities.

3. Candidates are screened.

The WEAC Political Action Committee screens candidates and makes recommendations to the WEAC Board of Directors, who then vote on the committee's recommendations.

4. Recommendations are made to WEAC members who have paid political action dues (WEAC-PAC).

The WEAC Board of Directors’ recommendations, along with information on the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to WEAC, are sent to all WEAC members who have paid political action dues (WEAC-PAC). Attached is a ballot to be returned to WEAC. On this ballot, the member can vote agreement with the recommendation, for a different candidate’s recommendation or for “no recommendation.”

However, if a Board-recommended candidate is running in an uncontested race, such balloting is optional. In the case of a“no recommendation” from the Board, no balloting takes place.

5. WEAC members have the final say!

The candidate receiving the support of a majority of the returned ballots becomes the WEAC-recommended candidate and is assisted in the campaign.

For statewide legislative elections:

1. Members set the legislative priorities.

Each year, hundreds of delegates to the WEAC Representative Assembly establish legislative priorities. Based on these priorities, members of the Legislative Committee recommend a legislative agenda to the Board of Directors.

2. Members analyze the voting records of legislators.

After the legislative session, the WEAC Board of Directors assigns a weight to the legislative floor votes that affect public education. A percentage of support is calculated for each legislator.

The WEAC Board of Directors also requires each incumbent to complete a written questionnaire, the responses to which are included in the weighting procedure. The Board of Directors may vote to automatically recommend the re-election of any legislator who achieves a 70% or better weighted score. However, a local or UniServ president from a legislative district can request that the Board not support a particular candidate, regardless of his or her weighted score.

3. Members interview the candidates and review their positions on issues important to children and public education.

In districts where no candidate has a 70% record of support, or where an incumbent does not seek re-election, local members who have paid political action dues (WEAC-PAC) recommend candidates.

First, a questionnaire is sent to each candidate to determine his or her positions on WEAC’s legislative priorities. Then each candidate is invited to an interview with a local committee of members who have paid political action dues (WEAC-PAC). This committee votes and sends its recommendations to the WEAC Political Action Committee, which has 21 members who represent all parts of the state.

The WEAC Political Action Committee reviews the recommendations and can concur or modify the recommendations. A list of candidates recommended by the WEAC Political Action Committee is sent to the WEAC Board of Directors, which votes on each recommendation.

4. WEAC members have the final say!

The WEAC Board of Directors’ recommendations, along with information on the candidates’ positions on WEAC legislative issues, are sent to all WEAC members who have paid political action dues (WEAC-PAC). Attached is a ballot to be returned to WEAC. On this ballot, the member can vote agreement with the recommendation, for a different candidate’s recommendation or for “no recommendation.”

However, if a Board-recommended candidate is running in an uncontested race, such balloting is optional. In the case of a“no recommendation” from the Board, no balloting takes place.

Candidates receiving a majority of votes of the returned ballots become the WEAC-PAC recommended candidates and receive assistance.

From start to finish, dues-paying WEAC-PAC members control the recommendation process. Every election cycle, dozens of WEAC members spend hundreds of hours meeting candidates for public office, reviewing their records, and voting on recommendations

Updated May 12, 2008