AFT Exec VP cheers on M97
AFT Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker, left, looks on as state Rep. Rob Nosse cheers on Yes on 97 canvassers on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Volunteers for the OSEA/AFT canvass for Yes on Measure 97 were stirred to action by a visitor all the way from Washington, D.C.
Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), joined volunteers for a kickoff at the Yes on 97 headquarters at the Lloyd Center in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Recognizing the stakes of Measure 97, Ricker – a former Portland resident – felt compelled to ensure Oregon continues to lead the way in effective progressivism.
“I think this is really going to open up other conversations around equitable funding streams,” Ricker said. “The greater story is about how you work elbow-to-elbow to campaign for the resources the people of Oregon deserve.”
State Rep. Rob Nosse also came to give some inspiration to volunteers.
“The best thing we can do in this campaign is get out and talk to people,” said Nosse, who added that big business contributions to the No on 97 campaign have made this ballot measure the most expensive in the state’s history.
Passing Measure 97 is vital to goals identified by OSEA members, including restoring lost work hours, ensuring safe schools for all and proper staffing levels. Without it, our Legislature faces a $1.4 billion budget deficit, which likely will be balanced at the expense of our schools. We cannot let this happen.
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