AAUP-UC’s endorsement in partisan political races has historically been rare. This has increased in recent years as higher education funding in Ohio has been repeatedly cut. Further, faculty have been repeatedly targeted by a variety of ill-informed legislative efforts that depict faculty as the problem that must be fixed. This includes bills that mandated course load, reduced sick-time, required post-tenure review, prohibited faculty from using their own textbook for courses, and repeated attempts to limit the faculty’s ability to collectively bargain. Fortunately, through the efforts of AAUP-UC, the Ohio Conference AAUP, and our allies throughout the state, these misguided pieces of legislation were defeated. Unfortunately, there will be more forthcoming.
With this background, and after a thorough and methodical process, the AAUP-UC Political Action Committee (PAC) recommended and the AAUP-UC membership approved the following endorsements.
Rich Cordray for Governor. Cordray is the former Ohio attorney general, treasurer, and head of the United States Consumer Protection Bureau. He has made making higher education more affordable, expanding access to technical training, and making community college free a critical part of his campaign. Both before and after the Chapter’s endorsement, Cordray has been open and available to discussing issues that are important to AAUP-UC. This includes issues that affect working conditions at UC, including administrative bloat, the increasing athletic subsidy, over-reliance on adjuncts, and the need for more diverse perspectives, including an academic perspective, on the board of trustees.
Fred Strahorn and Brigid Kelly for State Representative. Strahorn and Kelly have been critical allies of AAUP-UC and the Ohio Conference of the AAUP on a number of the anti-faculty issues that have emerged in the Ohio House in recent years. Without their support, some of this legislation would have passed. Strahorn is the minority leader. Kelly is the assistant minority whip and represents the district that includes UC’s uptown campus.
Kathleen Clyde for Secretary of State. Clyde was an eloquent and passionate voice in the Ohio House on AAUP-UC and higher education issues. As Secretary of State, she will work to ensure voter access and make the decennial redistricting process fairer and more transparent.
Pat Bruns for State School Board. Pat Bruns is a former educator having taught art in the Northwest School district in Hamilton County. She has been a consistent advocate on the state board of education for affordable, quality public education.
All AAUP-UC endorsements are voted on at general membership meetings. Only AAUP-UC members are eligible to vote. If you are not a member of AAUP-UC, click HERE to join.
