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It came as a political surprise.
The state's largest teacher's union has endorsed Secretary of State Joe Manchin
over former Senate Education Chairman Lloyd Jackson in the Democratic
gubernatorial campaign.
The education endorsement should be a major plus for Manchin.
Jackson has been a shaker and mover in school consolidation and was a major
influence in all education initiatives in his eight years as Senate Education
Chairman.
Yesterday, a group of Lincoln County residents held a rally in front of Jackson's
headquarters, protesting his race for governor. A Jackson open house was being
held in conjunction with the Jackson-Jefferson Dinner, which drew Democrats from
around the Mountain State.
The Lincoln County group is angered at Jackson's track record on school consolidation and say they want the rest of the
state to know about it.
Activist Thomas Ramey is challenging Jackson to ride a school bus in his home county on the four hour trip many of the
county's children will be forced to make when a new consolidated school is constructed.
"It's a sad issue when someone of his stature can sit and with a straight face vote to put the kids of his home county on
buses for four hours, then a few weeks afterward move out of Lincoln County and transfer his kids to Kanawha County,"
said Ramey, a member of Challenge West Virginia. Challenge favors small community schools.
When he left the Senate in January, Governor Wise appointed Jackson to the West
Virginia Board of Education. He then resigned to run for governor.
The WVEA also endorsed former Tax Secretary Rob Capehart in the Republican
gubernatorial primary. The union also endorsed Democratic incumbents Warren
McGraw for Supreme Court, Darrell McGraw for Attorney General, John Perdue for
Treasurer, Glen Gainer for Auditor and Gus Douglas for Agriculture
Commissioner.
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