Tampabay.com
JUNE 17, 2008

School employee unions announce favored candidates

The political action committee for Pinellas County’s two largest school employee unions has announced its recommendations for School Board.The group supports Janet Clark, District 1- at large; Carol Cook, District 5; Ron Walker, District 2-at large; and Ken Peluso, District 4.Ron_walker_north_pinellas2_5

Janet_clark_photo Clark, left, a former middle school teacher, “has been very faithful to our issues,” said Jade Moore, executive director of both unions, the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the Pinellas Education Support Personnel Association. He added: “There are a lot of good people in that race. This was not an easy one.”

Walker, right, a former School Board member, gave “good answers” in his interview with the 14-member panel that reviewed the candidates, Moore said, adding that Walker was “developing into a really good board  member” when he left in 1992 to run for Tax Collector. The District 2 race also has several good candidates, Moore said. The committee “wrangled on that one for hours.” Carol_cook_photo_2

Ken_peluso_photo_3 In District 4, he said, Peluso, left, had “the best record of all-around service.”

Moore said the union has always supported Cook, right, who so far has no opposition in her bid for a third term. The qualifying deadline is Friday.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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