Candidates asked to submit campaign information for consideration
Posted: December 15, 2021
The Hawaii State Teachers Association this year plans to consider candidate recommendations two months earlier than the last election for those running in statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, and U.S. Congress.
With all state House and Senate races up for reelection in 2022 because of redistricting, HSTA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) decided to push up the timeline to vet and make recommendations for those running for statewide races before concentrating on legislative candidates.
Candidates planning to enter statewide races in 2022 who would like to participate in HSTA’s recommendation process, please email your campaign addresses (both mailing and email) to Jeannette Leas in HSTA’s Government Relations Department at jleas@hsta.org. In the subject line, please include which race you are running for.
HSTA will send out candidate questionnaires in January 2022 with interviews for these particular races to take place with HSTA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) in February 2022. The committee is made up of volunteer member leaders from each of HSTA’s 12 chapters.
HSTA recommends candidates who are strong supporters of public education, our educators, labor, and are committed to creating a better future for our keiki.
“We like to recommend candidates who work for their communities once they are in their seats,” said Hope McKeen, kumu ‘ike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian studies teacher) at Keonepoko Elementary School in Puna on Hawaiʻi Island and state chair of HSTA’s GRC. “When elected officials are working for their communities, teachers are able to better do their jobs in supporting our keiki.”
Recommendation procedures for county and state lawmakers races (Senate, House, mayoral and county councils) will be announced in the spring. HSTA members will be invited to participate in the interview process at the chapter level for legislative and city council candidates seeking recommendations. HSTA chapter leadership may choose to not participate in all county races.