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| Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 Director Andy Doyle and CTA President Barbara E. Kerr. |
CTAState Council of Education delegates put aside their official duties for a couple of hours during their October meeting and hoisted picket signs for an enthusiastic march and rally in downtown Los Angeles. It was part of a concerted get-out-the-vote effort on behalf of CTA-supported candidates and initiatives on the November ballot.
John Garamendi, the candidate for lieutenant governor, and John Chiang, the candidate for controller, joined CTA officers behind the banner at the head of the lengthy column of marchers and delivered rousing messages at the rally that followed.
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| With candidates John Garamendi and John Chiang joining CTA leaders behind their banner, State Council of Education delegates march through downtown Los Angeles. |
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| Among those Joining the candidates in addressing the rally at the march's conclusion are CTA officers David A. Sanchez and Dean E. Vogel. |
Council members rose to the occasion despite the withering noonday sun, waving signs and chanting in response to speeches by representatives of like-minded labor organizations — nurses, firefighters, education support personnel, classified school employees and hotel workers, among others.
Dressed in green safety vests, members of Council’s Political Involvement Committee used bullhorns to keep the march on course and stir up an exchange of election-related questions and responses. Between speakers, CTA Board members Mikki Cichocki and Lloyd Porter joined Secretary-Treasurer Dean Vogel in leading the crowd in fight songs, sometimes making up relevant lyrics on the spot.
At the conclusion of the rally, CTA President Barbara E. Kerr gave the crowd a quiz.
“Are you going to keep making those phone calls and talking to people until Election Day?”
The answer was a resounding, “YES!”
“Are you going to get out and vote on Election Day?”
“YES!”
“Are we going to win on Election Day?
“YES!”
“Are we going to win on Election Day?” she repeated.
The volume went up. “YES!”
“I know we are. You all get an A on my little quiz. You are all so committed. You’ve never let us or your members down. I thank you for all the work you’ve done and all you’re going to do until Election Day.”
