NICHOLS: Manski's education endorsements are notable

There's a reason why candidates go out of their way to get the endorsements of current and former elected officials. Endorsements send signals, not just about the credibility of a particular contender, but about the issues they are focusing on.

That's why it is significant that 77th Assembly District candidate Ben Manski has collected endorsements not just from Madison Teachers Inc., the teachers union, but also from a number of current and former school board members in Madison and Middleton.

In addition to Ellen Lindgren, the president of the Middleton-Cross Plains Board of Education, Manski has also won the backing of Arlene Silveira, the immediate past president of the Madison School Board.

He's also backed by former School Board president Bill Keys and former board member Shwaw Vang.

What makes the endorsements of Manski significant is that he is running as a Green, and third-party candidates don't frequently get the backing of a major union, school board presidents and school board members. By and large, teachers unions and board members in Madison back Democrats.

Manski's Democratic opponent, Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey, has secured significant endorsements in this race, especially those of Spencer Black, the retiring representative for whose seat he and Manski are competing, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. Hulsey's also been backed by a number of educators -- a fact that he is highlighting on the campaign trail. This is not a case where Hulsey is "bad" on education issues. Rather, it is a case where Manski has succeeded in convincing key players on the issue that he would be an especially strong advocate in the Legislature.

"There is a reason why MTI is actively supporting Manski. Ben has a record of personal sacrifice for issues important to educators," says MTI executive director John Matthews. "He has been a vocal advocate for tax fairness and school funding reform; comes from a family of educators; he has walked the picket lines in support of workers; he has lived and breathed the struggle."

Adds Madison School Board member (and retired teacher) Marj Passman: "We need strong public schools to provide opportunities, to combat inequality, to bring people together, to give our children the tools they need to be engaged, contributing members of their communities. Ben Manski gets that."