Whether apathetic, uninformed or just plain fed up, few residents typically cast a ballot in elections for the Kansas City, Missouri, School Board (see this week's feature, "Board Brawl"). Bitch and moan about our failing schools? Sure. Bother to attend a candidate forum? Uh, no thanks.
But a crowded field of at-large candidates and a battle in Subdistrict Four (not to mention, a ton of press about Superintendent John Covington's school closings plan) could make this election a little more participatory.
A handful of influential groups have made their preferences clear. So who's got the backing of teachers, labor unions and political organizations?
The following groups have made public endorsements:
AFL-CIO
(Labor union that represents more than 100,000 workers in the Greater Kansas City area)
At-large: Rose Bell, Crispin Rea
Subdistrict Four: Joseph Jackson
American Federation of Teachers
(Labor union that represents 2,400 current and retired teachers and school staff)
At-large: Rose Bell, Crispin Rea
Subdistrict Four: Joseph Jackson
Freedom Incorporated
(African-American political group)
At-large: Crispin Rea, Kyleen Carroll
Subdistrict Four: Joseph Jackson
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City
At-large: Crispin Rea
Kansas Citians United for Educational Achievement
(Political committee headed by current school board member Airick Leonard West)
At-large: Crispin Rea, Kyleen Carroll
Subdistrict Four: Joseph Jackson
Service Employees International Union
(Labor union representing, among other groups, janitors and health care workers)
At-large: Crispin Rea, Kyleen Carroll
Subdistrict Four: Joseph Jackson
The team of candidates managed by Spark Bookhart -- Cokethea Hill, Kenneth Hughlon, Linwood Tauheed and Marilyn Simmons -- haven't garnered any official endorsements. But "the only endorsement we are seeking is that of the community on April 6," Bookhart told me in an e-mail.
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