SEIU Announces Metro School Board Endorsements

Union Backs Mason, Coleman, and Limbird to Bring Change to MNPS

SEIU Local 205 announced a list of candidates endorsed in this year’s Metro school board elections in Nashville on August 7.  SEIU endorses William Mason Jr. in District 1, Tim Coleman in District 3, and Lee Limbird in District 9. 

William Mason Jr. is a teacher at the Developmental Learning Center and he’s active in local church, sports, and scouting organizations. Mason is also a former teacher and center manager at the Metro Action Commission. “We felt that based on his life experiences, Mr. Mason understands the needs of our school system and can also relate to the experiences of Metro employees,” says Kay Groves, a resident of District 1 who also serves on the union’s political committee.

In District 3, SEIU decided to support challenger Tim Coleman, an officer with the Berry Hill police department whose top priority is increasing graduation rates. “With a possible state takeover of Metro schools, we felt like it was time to shake up the status quo on the Board,” says Betty Russell, a Goodlettsville resident who’s a school secretary at Hunter’s Lane and a union steward. “Tim Coleman is a ‘man of the people’ who’s willing to speak his mind and offer common-sense solutions to our city’s problems”. 

Lee Limbird is the candidate SEIU supported in District 9. Ms. Limbird works at Meharry Medical College, where she is in charge of special project development. “Our endorsement in this race was difficult with so many qualified candidates running,” says Teresa West, the MNPS chapter’s chief union steward. “But in the end, SEIU is supporting Lee because we feel she’s the most knowledgeable about the issues facing the schools and the most committed to fairness for all MNPS employees”.

SEIU will also be endorsing the campaigns of Gracie Porter in District 5 and Ed Kindall in District 7.

“SEIU will be organizing an intense grassroots campaign this election cycle,” says Mark Naccarato, Political Coordinator for Local 205. “We don’t just ask union members to go vote for our endorsed candidates. We ask them to knock doors, make phone calls, and get their friends, families, and co-workers to the polls. And we’re engaging with our allies out in the community to support our candidates as well. It’s a strategy that worked for us last year, when three-quarters of the candidates we backed for Metro Council won their races”.

“There’s a high level of interest in these elections among our membership this year,” says Doug Collier, President of Local 205. “In addition to a possible state takeover of Metro schools, support workers are having a tough time making ends meet in the Bush economy and there was no cost of living raise for support staff in this year’s budget. We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Early voting lasts from July 18 through August 2, and Election Day will be on Thursday, August 7. A full list of dates and voting locations is available through the Davidson County Election Commission.