CTU-backed coalition endorses slate of candidates as school board weighs tax referendum

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Teachers Union leaders and a coalition of progressive organizations have endorsed more than a dozen candidates for Chicago's elected school board, including write-in candidate Tameka Walton, as political debates surrounding the school board continue to intensify.

Walton, a CPS parent and nonprofit leader, is running as a write-in candidate after being removed from the ballot in her race against current elected member Che "Rhymefest" Smith because she did not have enough valid signatures.

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Walton said support from the teachers union could help her campaign overcome the challenge of running as a write-in candidate.

"It's important to have the backing of the teacher's right, I come from a family of teachers," Walton said.

Walton is among the candidates endorsed by the CTU and its coalition partners. She said large amounts of money are being spent in the race and welcomed the coalition's support.

"There's a lot of money going into this race, right? And not just from the Chicago Teachers Union, from all over, right? And so I feel like I'm on the right side of history by being backed by this particular coalition," Walton said.

Hilario Dominguez, a CTU candidate for school board president, said the coalition is working against the influence of wealthy interests.

"The coalition is showing that is it people versus the billionaires right," Dominguez said.

Critics of the union, however, argue that the CTU and its coalition are leveraging their political influence to elect board members who align with the union's agenda rather than focusing on the needs of the school district.

"I think it speaks to the fact that the Chicago Teachers Union is not really operating as a traditional teachers union and hasn't for many years. It operates as a political machine," said Austin Berg, executive director of the Chicago Policy Center.

The endorsements come as current CTU-aligned school board members are pushing to place an advisory question on the November ballot asking voters whether Illinois should enact a millionaires tax to help pay for education.

Berg criticized the proposal and the board members supporting it.

"And again, it is CTU Brandon Johnson aligned members focusing way too much on political activism and not enough on excellence in schools," Berg said.

For the Chicago Board of Education to place a question on the November ballot, action must be taken by next Monday. If board members decide to vote on the proposed referendum, the matter could be considered at a special school board meeting later this week.