No More Half Truths on Glossy Cardstock

Friends,
I have a problem with politicians sharing half truths about themselves on glossy cardstock and passing it off as the whole truth. A week ago, I posted my concerns about my district’s representative, but I didn’t share his name or my district. Today one of his flyers made an appearance in my Facebook feed and this has prompted me to share a little more about my experience with him. I won’t be sharing his name, but I will share my district for anyone who is interested. As I stated in a previous post I’m not trying to sway anyone’s vote, but I do think voters are entitled to the truth. For the record, I don’t know enough about his opponent to campaign for or against her. 
I live in House District 91, I teach in House District 91…and during the walkout a group of my teacher friends and I reached out to my representative. His message on day one: I will not vote yes on any additional funding for education, teachers have lost the support of the community, and finally teachers will not influence whether I am reelected. My experience with him was not unique…he said the same thing to other educators who had the opportunity to visit with him. 
This is the same representative who is claiming that his “Top Issue Is Education”, he told us that he was more concerned with health care…and seriously guys that’s an honorable cause. I don’t understand why he isn’t using that as his platform if that’s what he is most passionate about. His most recent flyer says that he “went to battle supporting the teacher pay raise and writing bills for classroom stipends and support staff” This could be true but I can’t find any education related bills authored by him...maybe I don't know where to look...and to my knowledge he didn’t have any part in writing 1010XX.
Yes, he may have a “red apple” but if there’s one thing I learned from being at the capitol it’s that our legislators are pressured to stay in line and play nice. His “red apples” are in line with party politics it’s not like he went out on a limb for education. On one of our final days at the capitol a large group of teachers met with representatives from the Democrat’s side of the House…the Republican mentioned as being instrumental in getting bipartisan conversation started for funding education was Representative Mark McBride (and no it’s not because I was in the room…they don’t even know who I am, or that Mark’s my brother.) 
There is simply no excuse for this kind of misrepresentation, and it should not be tolerated. I expect my family, my children, my students, my friends, and colleagues to represent themselves truthfully, and I expect no less of my political leaders. I find it difficult to believe that my representative is as committed to fighting for public education as he claims. If he were I believe that my encounter with him during the walkout would have taken a different tone...a tone of support, a willingness to discuss additional funding, the recognition that we had the support of our community (his district), and a tone of respect for educators. If the incumbent for House District 91 is reelected I encourage you to hold him to his promises.