Westmont, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Citing his legislative record and longstanding commitment to quality public education at all levels, the Illinois Federation of Teachers today endorsed State Rep. John Fritchey for Congress in the 5th District.
“John Fritchey is a fighter for our children and their education,” said IFT President Ed Geppert, Jr. “We have worked with him in Springfield, and we know that the good relationship we have developed over the years with Rep. Fritchey will continue in Washington.”
“I know the value of a strong system of public education from pre-Kindergarten to post-secondary levels, and I am honored to receive this endorsement from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the front-line professionals who work in schools, colleges, universities and in state agencies across Illinois,” said Fritchey, who is running in a March 3rd special election to fill the seat left vacant when Rahm Emanuel stepped down to become President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.
During Fritchey’s tenure in the Illinois General Assembly, he earned a 97 percent lifetime voting record on issues important to working families, according to Illinois AFL-CIO voting records. “We face great challenges in our country, from righting a floundering economy, boosting public education funding, fixing No Child Left Behind and making college more affordable,” Geppert said. “We need representatives like John Fritchey in Congress.”
The IFT represents nearly 5,500 members in the 5th Congressional district, the highest concentration of union voters in the district of any AFL-CIO-affiliated union. “We know John Fritchey will work hard for public schools and public services,” said Geppert. “We will provide all of the support we can to help elect John to Congress.”
# # #
The Illinois Federation of Teachers is an AFL-CIO-affiliated union representing more than 90,000 teachers, education workers and public employees in Illinois.
