Earlier this week a group of 22 Andover residents — including former select board and school committee members — signed a letter urging voters to not vote for two school committee candidates who are expected to receive thousands of dollars in campaign support from the union representing Andover’s teachers.
“As the only contested local race and one that now introduces a significant conflict of interest, voters should be very concerned,” the residents wrote. “Historically, these races were funded by personal donations with total campaign expenses approximating $3,000. That was shattered last year when the Massachusetts Teachers Association Independent Political Action Committee injected over $15,000 into the Andover Select Board and School Committee races.”
While union and political action contributions are commonplace in state and federal elections, they had been rare in local Andover politics until last year. Along with the Andover Public Schools budget, student performance, and the fate of Andover High School, the Andover Education’s endorsement of Jake Tamarkin and Christopher Shepley and the campaign support it entails is becoming a key issue in this year’s local election on March 25.
Tamarkin and Shepley are challenging incumbents Emily DiCesaro and Sandis Wright in the four-way race for the two school committee seats up for election in the March 25 election. Over the weekend, AEA members canvassed for Shepley and Tamarkin. The endorsement is also expected to come with campaign support from AEA’s parent and the state’s largest labor organization, the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association.
Candidates Discuss AEA Support
The endorsements were a significant topic of discussion during the Andover Service Club’s candidates forum at the Public Safety Center on North Main Street Tuesday. By law, MTA’s PAC can not coordinate directly with Tamarkin and Shepley’s campaign, a point both candidates stressed.
“I have been endorsed by the Andover Educators Association, which means that over 90% of the teachers voted in favor of my endorsement. Frankly, I’m very proud of that,” Tamarkin said. “I don’t know why anyone would view that as controversial considering how important teachers are to our success here, and I have no control over any activities they or their parent organization, the MTA, may do. So that’s all I have to say.”
“I am really disheartened by the misinformation that’s being spread right now about that,” Shepley added. “[W]hat they choose to do has nothing to do with me if they send out mailers or print lawn signs. My campaign has nothing to do with it, even if it has my name on it and I can’t control it.”
DiCesaro called the union support “manipulation” of the local election while taking exception to the portrayal of her and Wright as “anti-educator.”
“Chris, you can control it. You can say that you do not want the financial contributions that the MTA has given to two candidates during the last election to the tune of about $5,000 each, and they’re doing that again,” DiCesaro said. “You need to ask yourself as a voter, why do these groups care about our local elections? What do they stand to gain or lose by candidates who are elected?…I find it troubling for them to accept and to pretend that you can’t say no to it.”
Wright said he completed the AEA questionnaire sent to all candidates inviting them to be considered for the union’s endorsement because it was important to show the union and voters his thoughts and perspectives on different issues.
“But when I submitted the questionnaire, I specifically made it clear that I was not accepting any endorsements because it is fundamentally a conflict of interest,” Wright said. “Part of this role on the school committee is to negotiate with the union, and we need to be impartial. And if we are benefiting from financial contributions to get those seats…it creates a conflict of interest, and it undermines our community and how we as a school committee make decisions to represent students and the needs of Andover.”
What Does AEA Support Look Like?
After the AEA endorsed first-time candidates Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray in last year’s election, the Massachusetts Teachers Association spent $4,461.96 to support each woman’s campaign, according to finance reports maintained by the Town Clerk. The women won the two open seats in a five-way race, ousting incumbent Susan McCready in the process. McCready was among the signers of the letters, along with former school committee members Joel Blumstein and Tracey Spruce, and the husband of current school committee Chair Lauren Conoscenti.
The MTA’s expenditures in 2024 included mailings, yard signs, and a mobile billboard, as well as canvasing support from AEA members.
“The educators in Andover have known for a while that our schools will benefit from a diverse group of elected officials,” AEA President Matt Bach said when the union’s endorsements were announced last month. “Last year, we supported two educators from neighboring communities. This year, I’m proud to support a recent graduate and a strong public schools activist.”
Murray said she consulted with town and state officials after receiving the endorsement last year to make sure she was not in violation of any conflict of interest laws.
“Putting aside the fact that my integrity was and continues to be questioned, I would like to simply reinforce the facts,” she said. “When I decided to run in January after speaking with many concerned parents in town, I received an email from the AEA with an invitation to submit a questionnaire and sit for an interview for a possible endorsement. As a 20-year teacher in another school district, I was familiar with my own union supporting local candidates, and I valued the support of fellow educators.”
If either Shepley or Tamarkin is elected, a majority of the school committee members will have received help from AEA in getting elected.
“Educators who live in Andover should engage in local elections as desired, but the school unions, who represent many non-residents, should stay out of our local politics,” this week’s letter said. “The financing of and engagement in Andover School Committee elections by the AEA and its affiliated PAC creates a severe conflict of interest for Andover School Committee members.”
The letter, which was also signed by former select board members Chris Huntress and Paul Salafia, urged voters to back DiCesaro and Wright, “who will be beholden only to independently serving Andover’s students and our town.”