Happy Wednesday! Only two more days until the weekend. It’s been a busy week with canvassing neighborhoods, attending events, and meeting new people. Monday I had a chance to eat dinner with the family, which, around here, doesn’t happen very often lately.
After attending several events that were held by my fellow candidates, Tuesday night I held my fifth event since January 13, 2021. It was to meet and greet candidates who were running locally and statewide. I was glad that Gary Rabine accepted my invitation to come out to Morris, IL to speak with the voters in Grundy County.
We cannot always believe what we hear or see unless it’s directly from the source. Last night I was able to feel the passion each of the candidates had for their reason for running. The current elected officials do not have the passion to save Illinois. Not only in education but across the state.
Let’s discuss endorsements. While endorsements might be helpful to some candidates, it’s important to look at who is doing the endorsement and what, if anything, the endorser gets out of it. This past Monday, I was asked by the IEA (Illinois Educator’s Association) to come by for an interview because they want to endorse a regional superintendent candidate. I thought about not doing it because the IEA was against teachers during the pandemic. But I changed my mind because I wanted to hear what questions they would ask. They were very nice, and I have nothing against them personally and we can leave it at that :).
Not to my surprise that they decided not to endorse me. To tell you the truth, I knew it from the start because I do not fit their image of a person who follows orders. I knew that when I answered the question about the lawsuit, which I am a part of and the fact that I stated that teachers need support and, in some cases, higher pay, I knew I wasn’t their choice. And you know I could have lied about everything just to get their endorsement. But that’s not me. Unlike Richard Irving, who has not only lied about his fellow candidates, but he has lied about what he believes in. But like I said before, do not take my word for it. Just research him, Pritzker, Lightfoot, and certain letters of the alphabet. The truth will be in there.
Now there will be a few “haters” out there that will say I am holding a grudge for not being selected. And they have that choice. They are also the ones who probably received quadruple vaccinations, wear a mask in the car, and at home … alone.
Ironically, last night I also received an email from the IFT of the candidates they were backing. Top of the list is JB Pritzker and his personal attorney, Kwame Raoul (not the people’s attorney, the Governor’s). After the last two years of what the teachers have gone through, the IFT is still backing all the people (Republican and Democrats) that have destroyed the state from the inside out. It’s all about the power and money. It was never about the passion and support. The IFT helped us by indicating which candidates not to vote for. The list can be found here. (Spoiler alert: they endorse a majority of Democrats and those pretending to be Republicans).
Many are too afraid to stand up for their beliefs by hiding behind their own fear (and that was me too for years). But I have personally witnessed what happens when you let fear control you. It’s not your life anymore.
I cannot promise anything that I cannot do. But I will promise to try. You can have all the signs up around town, canvass every house, and hold as many events during this election season. But none of this will matter unless voters vote in June and in November.
Unlike the IFT/AFT and other organizations who send their list with “approved” candidates, I will not tell you who to vote for in June. That is your decision to make. But I do ask you to vote for me and research your candidates. Find out what bills they sponsored, co-sponsored, and voted yes on, your vote can make all the difference.
Oh, and the best endorsement comes from the parents, students, and my fellow educators.
To donate / volunteer visit my website, Koppers for ROE 24.
Best,
Kristen Koppers, M.A., M.Ed., NBCT