Democrats Maintain Control of State Senate

Democrats kept control of the Wisconsin State Senate Tuesday, picking up one additional seat to increase their majority to 18-15.

The key election was an upset victory by Democrat Dave Hansen of Green Bay over Republican incumbent Gary Drzewiecki of Pulaski.

In Western Wisconsin, Democratic incumbent Alice Clausing of Menomonie lost in a very close race to Republican Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls, a former Assembly member.

Rep. Mark Meyer, a La Crosse Democrat, defeated Republican Dan Kapanke in the race to succeed Republican Brian Rude, who has retired from the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala defeated challenger Lisa Nelson to keep his Madison Senate seat.

In other election results:

• Wisconsin voters backed Al Gore for president, although a recount in Florida will ultimately determine who wins the presidency.
• Republicans kept control of the State Assembly.
• U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl easily won re-election.
• Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin won reelection over Republican John Sharpless.
• Major private school voucher initiatives were soundly defeated in California and Michigan.

WEAC President Terry Craney applauded members for their extensive involvement in Tuesday's election.

"WEAC members were a leading force in voting for pro-public education candidates," Craney said. "It is evident that our members were more engaged in these elections than ever before and their level of support was higher than ever before.

"Educators supported candidates who believe that every kid deserves a great school."

Education was a central issue in campaigns throughout Wisconsin and the nation, Craney said.

"Now that the elections are over, it's time for the candidates who won their elections, no matter what their political affiliation, to keep their promises and create quality schools for all children."

Craney said pro-public education candidates were elected to both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature.

"Wisconsin will continue to focus on proven programs that benefit children, such as the SAGE class-size reduction program," Craney said. "We hope all sides will put their differences aside and work together for the good of the state."

Craney said some of the top issues facing the new Legislature are revenue controls and the state's system of funding schools.

"The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the current system of financing public education, but set a new standard for ensuring that all children receive a quality education," Craney said. "The Legislature will grapple with meeting that standard in the coming months and years."

Craney added that WEAC members were instrumental in helping Vice President Al Gore carry Wisconsin.

"Wisconsin voters recognized that Al Gore had their interests at heart," Craney said. "Al Gore was the pro-public education presidential candidate."

NEA President Bob Chase said public education "emerged as a uniting force in this election."

"The results are a mandate to support and improve public schools. This mandate is one that should transcend the party lines that now dissect our nation's capital," he said.

Chase said key education wins in the House and Senate races signal great promise for uniting behind children and public education.

Chase hailed the potential in the newly elected bipartisan, pro-public education Senate.

In several states, NEA members made critical differences. NEA-recommended Republican candidates Olympia Snowe (ME) and James Jeffords (VT) won by wide margins. NEA-recommended Democratic wins include early childhood education advocate Mark Dayton (MN), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Jean Carnahan (MO), Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) and Bill Nelson (FL).

Similar education victories could be found in House races. In Arkansas' 4th District, NEA members worked hard to elect pro-education candidate Mike Ross who defeated incumbent Jay Dickey – a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, who repeatedly voted against public schools.

"We hope this sends a clear message about the importance of education appropriations," said Chase.

NEA called on the new House and Senate to remember their campaign promises to work together and end the partisan rancor that led to gridlock just one week ago. The congressional standstill is jeopardizing funds to hire and train new teachers, reduce class size, modernize schools and provide afterschool programs.

"The message delivered by this election is a mandate to get back to work for children and public schools," said Chase.

Chase said the defeat of vouchers provide further evidence of the public's overwhelming commitment to public schools.

"The thorough thrashing of vouchers in California and Michigan should be a death knell to a bad idea that drains money away from our neighborhood schools," said Chase.

In both states, vouchers were defeated by more than two-to-one margins. The California and Michigan measures mark the ninth and tenth straight defeat of vouchers since 1972.

National exit polls confirm the public's support for investing in public education and rejection of vouchers that drain money away from public schools. By a decisive 78-16 spread, voters said they preferred programs to fix public schools over proposals to pay for private and religious schools.

"The electorate snapped shut the taxpayer purse that would give money to private and religious schools," said Chase.

The results of the ballot initiatives nationwide show unprecedented support for public schools. Voters approved initiatives in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado that would strengthen school funding.

"If there was any question about what the public wants, this election provides a clear answer – strengthening public schools," said Chase. "This is a priority that can unite both parties in support of children and public education.

"From coast to coast, NEA members volunteered and made their voices heard in unprecedented numbers. I applaud the work of our 2.5 million members whose passion for children and public education runs so deep," he said.

Members ask: 'If we don't do it, who will?'