Volunteers for both Republican and Democratic candidates have been hard at work, preparing for the upcoming election. The democratic candidates are getting a boost from State Teachers Association volunteers. Kathy Parks with the Indiana State Teachers Association says “They can be barraged by messages but when it comes right down to it they care about their own families and their own children and communities. So an outreach on personal level from an educator who cares about their children as much as they do really means something.”
The association has been doing this since the early 70's. They know exactly what they want in a candidate. Roni Embry with the Indiana State Teachers Association says “One they are in favor of collective bargaining. They are also supportive of school funding for our local school. They are in favor of employees having input.”
The Indiana state teachers association says they don't take sides. Parks says “We have not really an interest in the party they belong to we are more interested in their role and work they will do on behalf of public schools.” All the candidates on their recommendation list are democrats.
The Republican Party is organizing their volunteers in a storefront in North Crest Shopping Center, called the Victory center. With less than three full weeks until the election, their volunteers are making calls and knocking on doors to get their message out. Corbin Knollman, A volunteer at the Republican Victory Center, says “It's important we get our voters out there because we know our message is what American is feeling right now, so we need to make sure they actually get to the ballot box November 2nd.”
Knollman says the association is biased. “I'm not surprised at all. I'm in high school at a public school and I see bias every day towards the Democratic Party.”
The State Teachers Association says in different parts of the state their endorsements are more evenly split across party lines.
