Association of Texas Professional Educators
   

Participating in the Process

How to learn about candidates

  • Join the ATPE Legislative Alert Network (LAN) to receive e-mails on public education issues and elections.
  • Pay attention to mailings from candidates, but be skeptical of information in this literature, whether it’s about the candidate himself or his opponent.
  • Schedule a meeting with a candidate (tips on face-to-face meetings). Share what you learn with fellow local unit members by calling a meeting or printing a summary in your local unit newsletter.
  • Read campaign surveys. Contact ATPE Governmental Relations to request copies of results from surveys of candidates in contested primary and general elections regarding education issues.
  • Read local publications for information about local candidates and announcements of candidate-hosted town hall meetings.

How to get even more involved

  • Invite candidates to visit your school or class for information about local candidates and announcements of candidate-hosted town hall meetings.
  • Host a “meet-and-greet” in your home. Most of the prep work will be in publicizing the event. Candidates want to share their messages and will take it from there. 
  • Host a candidate forum. Take advantage of the resources ATPE has to help you.
  • Volunteer for candidates. Working in a candidate’s campaign is the best way for you to create a good relationship with the candidate and increase your political influence. You can also encourage other educators to vote for your candidate by spreading the word that he has public education’s best interest at heart.
     
    Candidates welcome and appreciate campaign volunteers who can help with many different activities, from putting out yard signs and conducting phone banks to canvassing neighborhoods and hosting fund-raising events.
     
    Just call the candidate’s local campaign office, and offer your help.