Patterson for State Rep endorsed by AZ educators

AZ Education Association backs Patterson for AZ House

TUCSON -- I'm very honored to announce that today I won the endorsement of the Arizona Education Association in my district 29 State House campaign.

Today's announcement is our second big endorsement from AZ labor in two weeks.

I have always been very strong on public education, and will continue to be in the Legislature. In the State House, I will build bridges for more investment in Arizona public schools, which will benefit our economy and quality of life.

"I am pleased to inform you that the AEA Fund for Public Education, the political action committee of the Arizona Education Association, has approved you as a recommended candidate for the Arizona Legislature in the September Primary Election," John Wright, AEA President, told me today. "Your recommendation is based on your positions supporting quality public education... Thank you for supporting public schools and the employees who work in them."

AEA is a wise and effective organization for teachers and school employees, and I appreciate they recognized I am the best qualified candidate in LD29 with a proven record of leadership.

With more than 34,000 members, the Arizona Education Association is the largest professional organization in Arizona. AEA was formed more than a century ago, in 1892, when a group of Arizona educators banded together to protest the use of 14-year-old textbooks. Since then AEA continues to take the lead in advocating for support of Arizona's public schools, improving the quality of public education through positive change, and improving the professional lives of teachers and school staff members.

AEA members are teachers, community college professors, counselors, speech pathologists, bus drivers, secretaries, retired educators and student teachers and they belong to more than 150 local affiliates across Arizona.