June 05, 2018 08:07 AM UTC

TRUTH TRUMPS GENDER: Why I Still Support Jared Polis for Governor

•  
• by: NoMistakesJustHappyAccidents

By Nancy Cronk

As a former early childhood educator for eleven years turned political activist and community leader, then business woman, I have always chosen candidates in primaries who are endorsed by unions, and when all other things were equal, chosen women candidates. I’ve worked for political action groups, recruited women and people of color to run for office, and run for office myself. I firmly believe we need more women, union members and people of color in office at every level in the land, and have spent years of my life working toward that goal. As a result, I’ve paid attention to Colorado politics for a long time and know the importance of fact-checking tv ads intending to brainwash the masses.

In the Colorado gubernatorial race, three prominent names have emerged as contenders: Jared Polis, Cary Kennedy and Mike Johnston. After losing a statewide Treasurer’s race to Walker Stapleton in 2010, Cary Kennedy re-emerged hoping to take on Stapleton a second time, reaching out early to the education union community and winning their support. Mike Johnston has not been able to shed the dark cloud of his anti-teacher’s union SB10-191 bill, but won the early support of the pro-increased regulation of guns community. Jared Polis is a champion for renewable energy, early childhood education and civil rights. Both Cary Kennedy and Mike Johnston have commercials paid for by PACS and Jared Polis’s team has run commercials as well. Recently, the race turned negative and ugly when the Teachers for Kennedy PAC, unbound by the candidates’ oaths to not attack other Democrats, slammed Cary’s Democratic opponents with accusations they are against public education, implying her record on public education is perfect.

Let’s do some fact checking:

When it comes to Kennedy’s alleged perfect record on education, the truth does not support the claims. In fact, Cary Kennedy supported private school vouchers in the form of Colorado House Bills 03-1160 and 04-1442. Not only that, but Cary Kennedy supported the very bill her campaign slams Mike Johnston for authoring – Senate Bill 10-191!

Teacher’s for Kennedy PAC attacks Polis on Kennedy’s behalf, implying he is no friend to the teacher’s unions. In fact, the National Education Association has not only supported and endorsed Jared Polis every term he ran for Congress since 2008, but they also gave him an “A” rating – every time. Unlike Cary Kennedy who supported vouchers in Colorado, Jared voted against private school vouchers every time the vote came up in Congress. Before that, the Colorado Education Association endorsed Jared when he ran for his seat on the State Board of Education!

As a former educator who has followed Jared Polis’ career closely for two decades and familiar with his long record supporting public education, I scratch my head wondering what else may be behind these virulent attacks on Polis by the Kennedy campaign and their allies. I know Colorado history too well to be persuaded by misinformation. I’ve personally known Jared Polis for years – not only has he been a strong supporter of public education and public school teachers, he has also been a champion for lgbtq rights, renewable energy, women’s equality, immigrant rights, health care reform, small business ownership and protecting seniors. He has supported firefighters and civil servants and fought to protect their interests. He has donated to, supported and fundraised for literally hundreds of other Democratic candidates at all levels to build progressive coalitions in Colorado and beyond.

In the end, truthfulness trumps gender every time. My well-researched vote is for Polis.

Nancy Cronk
Business woman

Former Candidate House District 37
Emerge Colorado Fellow 2014
Former Fellow and Recruiter, Center for Progressive Leadership
Former Organizer, Change that Works
Former Chair, Senate District 27
Former President, Progressive Women of Colorado
Lead Organizer, Colorado March Against the War on Women
Former Board Member of Cunningham Fire Protection District (7 years)