Teachers union endorses Lomasney

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — The local teachers union has endorsed John W. Lomasney for the District 5 school board position.

Brian Bernard, president of the McKinley County Federation of United School Employees, said Lomasney was the only candidate for that position that sought the union’s endorsement.

The District 5 race is the only one that will be contested in the Feb. 3 election. Lomasney’s opponents in the race are incumbent Bruce Tempest, Timothy G. Nelson, and Mark S. Elliott.

In order to get a union endorsement, candidates must fill out a lengthy form which details their positions on various school-related issues. Besides their stand on issues, Bernard said union officials look at things like their electability and whether they feel that their election will benefit the district and the students.

He pointed out that the fact that no one else had sought the union’s endorsement did not factor into the union’s decision to endorse Lomasney. If he had not met the union’s criteria, the union would simply have endorsed no one this time, Bernard said.

The union liked Lomasney’s advocacy of teamwork and accountability at all levels — from the boardroom to the classroom to the home — with students as a priority.

“Teamwork and accountability have long been part of McFUSE’s philosophy,” read the endorsement.

They also like the fact that he has lived in Gallup for the past 35 years, 32 of them as an educator in the county school district. The union also pointed out that his children were students in the Gallup schools, his grandchildren current are enrolled in the district and his son is a district teacher.

“Mr. Lomasney is a man of common sense and integrity,” the endorsement states. “He knows the district, has experience in the district and is vested in the district. He is what the district needs and deserves.”