The Steps to Candidate Endorsements

The question is not should we participate in the political arena, but how do we do that? Members of NSEA long ago embraced the fact that politics affects every facet of their professional lives, and lobbying and endorsing candidates has become a regular part of our participation in the overall process.

NSEA has three types of endorsements: early endorsements, continuing support endorsements and open seat endorsements. These endorsements are finalized only after a lengthy process that involves members and leaders at the state and the local level.

Early Endorsements

 

At the end of the 2003 Legislative Session, we found that candidates for legislative office were coming forward at an unprecedented rate. Angered over the performance of legislators who blocked a vote on taxes, these candidates (some of whom were NSEA members) were seeking early support in their bid for office. Our hands were tied by our endorsement process because most of these candidates were in open seats and we would normally be required to wait until the close of candidate filing to even interview candidates.

The NSEA Board approved a change in policy to allow for our early consideration of candidates running in an open seat.

How does it work?

•  The NSEA GR Committee may develop a list of candidates that NSEA has been working with or has recruited to run for office in open seat races. (For NSEA an “open seat” is any seat in which we do not have a previously endorsed incumbent.) This list must be completed by the end of an odd numbered year following a legislative session.

•  The list of recommended candidates must be submitted to the NSEAGR Committee at its first meeting of the even numbered campaign year.

•  Once the NSEA Board has approved the list, the affected NSEA affiliates are notified and they must then take the candidate through the endorsement process having them complete an interim questionnaire and an interview.

•  Locals then submit any recommendations to the NSEA Board for final approval.

•  If a candidate who was on the original list does not receive the endorsement, he/she can still go through the endorsement process after the candidate filing period.

Continuing Support Endorsements

Only previously endorsed incumbents are eligible to be considered for a continuing support endorsement. This type of endorsement can be given to eligible candidates fairly early in the campaign year, which means contributions can be given earlier. This helps our friends who are running for re-election.

How does it work?

•  Early in the campaign year the NSEA Lobby Team reviews the performance of previously endorsed incumbents

•  The Lobby Team can:

•  Send candidates a questionnaire

•  Bring candidates in for an interview

•  All of the above

•  None of the above

•  Based on all available information, the Lobby Team decides which candidates to recommend for continuing support endorsements.

•  Those recommendations are sent to the appropriate locals for their concurrence.

•  Local boards concur (or not) with those recommendations.

•  Recommendations on which there is concurrence then go to the NSEA Board for final approval.

•  Candidates are informed about the endorsement.

•  If a candidate who is eligible for a continuing support endorsement does not receive the endorsement, the race is then considered to be an “open seat.”

 

 

Open Seat Endorsements

 

For NSEA, “open seat races” are those in which there is no previously endorsed incumbent, or the previously endorsed incumbent did not receive a continuing support endorsement. The big difference between the two types of endorsements is that, when doing continuing support endorsements, we do not deal with any opponents of our previously endorsed incumbents. In open seat races, we invite all candidates who have filed to run to go through our endorsement process.

How does it work?

•  At the close of candidate filing in May of each campaign year, we compile the list of all candidates who should be invited to participate in our endorsement process.

•  The official NSEA Candidate Questionnaire is mailed to each eligible candidate with a deadline for return of the questionnaire to NSEA.

•  NSEA notifies the appropriate local affiliate(s) about which candidates have completed and returned the questionnaire.

•  The local affiliate(s) appoint an interview team, and candidate interviews are conducted.

•  The interview team makes recommendations about which candidates to endorse to the local board(s).

•  The local board(s) acts on those recommendations and sends those they have approved on to the NSEA Board, which finalizes the endorsements.

•  The candidates are notified about the endorsements.