From Ballot Access News:
In this letter, Maria Pereira, who was elected to the Bridgeport, Connecticut School Board as a Working Families Party nominee in 2009, resigns her office within the Working Families Party. She objects to the party’s cross-endorsement of Democratic Governor Dan Malloy, who is running for re-election this year.
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Excerpts from the letter:
In 2009, the Working Families Party of Connecticut gave me an opportunity which I would not have been given by either major political party. I was a parent of a public school student, who had never aspired to, or been elected to public office. I had not been politically active.
I will always be grateful to the Working Families Party for nominating me to run for a seat on the Bridgeport Board of Education. I was elected to the board and completed my four-year term.
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The Working Families Party has served as a vehicle for ordinary people in the City of Bridgeport to make their voices heard and to make their votes count. By winning seats on the Bridgeport Board of Education in two municipal elections and in a special election, the Working Families Party has served as an opposition force, which this one-party city so desperately needs.
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I believe that the hard working men and women of the city of Bridgeport are as fully capable as their counterparts in Fairfield and Stratford, of electing their own leaders. Governor Malloy has demonstrated that he does not share this belief.
Therefore, in light of your support of the re-election of Governor Malloy, I cannot be associated with or be a part of the Working Families Party in any way.
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The WFP released this statement following Ms. Pereira’s resignation (Credit: onlyinbridgeport.com):
On Sunday, March 30th, former Bridgeport Board of Education Member Maria Pereira resigned from the Connecticut Working Families Party State Committee. Maria has been a tireless champion for students and parents in Bridgeport since 2009, and we wish her success organizing parents to advocate for strong public schools for all children. We have been proud to work with her on these issues over the years, and are optimistic we will find each other as partners again in the future as we all work for quality public education.
Maria cites the upcoming gubernatorial election as a reason for her break with the party. The Working Families Party has a rigorous and democratic process for choosing our nominees, and there is lively debate within the Working Families Party about the best choice for us this year. But the party has not made any endorsement yet and any speculation that we have a candidate selected in advance is simply false.
The Working Families Party looks at the records of all the candidates, regardless of political party, and endorses the one who will stand up for working-class, middle-class and poor families. The process starts with an extensive questionnaire on topics ranging from the right to organize a union in the workplace, to fair wages and benefits, to protecting public education. This year, the Working Families Party will also hold a candidates’ forum for our members to hear from and publicly question candidates seeking our endorsement. Our leadership and members will also hold interviews with interested candidates. Only after all of this will the state committee officially decide whether or not to endorse a candidate for Governor, and which.
As has always been the case, the Working Families Party will endorse the candidate who will be the most effective advocate for policies that benefit hardworking families across the state. We’ve always been clear about our values. On some issues, like education, we have disagreed with the Governor. On others, like paid sick days, organizing rights, and the minimum wage, we have aligned with him. There will be extensive discussion and debate as the Working Families Party decides how to proceed with our endorsements.
A vote on the Working Families line counts for the best candidate, but also sends a message to Democrats and Republicans that it’s time to put working families first. It is a vote for an economy that works for all of us, not just the rich and powerful. Voting on the Working Families line lets people support for the values they believe in and still impact the election. It is a protest vote that actually counts.