Burkhalter Gets AEA Endorsement

From Scott Inman with our content partner, KATV Channel 7:

The Arkansas Education Association threw its support behind the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor at a news conference at the Clinton Children’s Library on Thursday.

John Burkhalter used the occasion to announce his education plan, which includes an emphasis on strengthening technical education and job training.

“I think that we’ve got to make sure that we stick with the basics. We got where it wasn’t en vogue to talk about shop. Hey, I’m blue collar. I grew up blue collar and I want to make sure that children know that it’s fine to be a plumber. I mean, I think it’s fabulous,” he said.

Burkhalter also said he wants every 4-year-old in Arkansas to have access to Pre-K by 2025, echoing a position held by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross.

Burkhalter’s opponent, Republican Congressman Tim Griffin, dismissed the endorsement with a statement saying, “As a product of Magnolia’s public schools, the son of a teacher and head start director, and father of two students currently attending Little Rock public schools, I know first hand the challenges facing our students and teachers and how to address them so our schools are second to none. The government employee union that endorsed my Democrat opponent is the same union that endorsed Barack Obama nationally and supports his policies, so it’s no surprise those union lobbyists support the Obama candidate in the race for lieutenant governor.”

Access Inman’s full report at this link.