Second Education Group Backs Elliott For Governor

by Donald Eng

NEW HAVEN, CT — Connecticut is one of the best states in the country for education, but among the worst for racial equality in education, according to state Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden.

Elliott, who is challenging two-term incumbent Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont in an August 11 party primary for the party’s endorsement against Republican state Sen Ryan Fazio, accepted the endorsement of the New Haven Federation of Teachers Tuesday. The federation includes about 1,700 educators.

Teachers on hand to speak in Elliott’s favor focused on his willingness to fight for better conditions in the schools, both for students and staff. They also cited his outspoken opposition to private school vouchers, which NHFT President Leslie Blatteau called “a Trojan horse with money attached.”

“There is deep economic and racial inequality in our state and it shows up more directly in our schools and classrooms,” Blatteau said. “There is a tacit acceptance by those whose parents own homes in wealthier communities that those kids deserve access to better schools than students who live in working class cities like here in New Haven. We must fix this broken funding formula to address (the) pernicious inequalities we see everyday.”

Kindergarten teacher Alexander Oji said when it comes to learning, the state should not be divided into the haves and have-nots.

“Our students are struggling, our parents are struggling. They have to make a decision on paying the rent or putting food on the table and this is the unfortunate reality that we face,” he said. “So, what can we do to help? We can tax the rich. We’re in this together.”

Elliott said one of his biggest frustrations was that the problems – and the solutions – were plainly visible, but people like himself were told that what they are seeing is not actually real, and that throwing money at the problem won’t fix it. This despite city students going to schools in buildings with failing roofs and plumbing, teachers choosing other professions because of pay, and educational outcomes differing dramatically by zip code and race, he said.

“When we’re in… one of the wealthiest states in this country, after the biggest tax cut for the ultra wealthy that came from the federal government, being told over and over and over again that there’s nothing that we can do. That’s why I’m running.”

He said he was appreciative of the federation for backing his underdog campaign.

“The risk of status quo is significantly scarier and worse than the risk of backing the horse that doesn’t win,” he said.

The NHFT endorsement is Elliott’s second from an education-related union. Last month the faculty and staff of the state’s 12 community colleges also backed his campaign.

For his part, Lamont has received the backing of numerous labor groups, too, including the Connecticut AFL-CIO, which backed him for another term after he and Elliott made closed-door pitches for support. This endorsement came despite the union’s condemnation of Lamont’s opposition to legislation that would have given unemployment benefits to striking workers. Lamont also has backing from the Connecticut Teamsters, the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association, hospitality and food service workers and dozens of state and federal elected officials.