Union starts billboard attack on Bush

The teachers group says Gov. Jeb Bush is to blame for low salaries and crowded classrooms.

By STEVE BOUSQUET

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 22, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- A teachers union launched an ad campaign against Gov. Jeb Bush Tuesday with a billboard a few blocks from the Governor's Mansion, blaming Bush for "below-average" salaries and crowded classrooms.

Challenging Bush's claims of a "historic" leap in support for schools, the Florida Education Association accused Bush of contributing to the state's teacher shortage by not spending enough on education.

The union spent $25,000 for six signs. The message, in the form of a classified ad, says: "Wanted: Teachers and support personnel for Florida public schools. Below average salary, overcrowded classrooms, benefits reduced annually. Apply to Governor Jeb Bush," followed by the phone number of Bush's office.

Bush's campaign answered with a three-page rebuttal accusing the union of "distorting" his record. Bush himself dismissed the criticism as partisan.

"That's what those hard-earned union dues are paying for," Bush said. "They are a partisan political operation, and for anyone to suggest otherwise isn't facing reality."

Bush said state support for public education has increased by $2.4-billion, the biggest increase of any three-year period in state history, since he became governor.

He also cited $850 performance bonuses for all classroom teachers and $152-million in existing and new programs to recruit and keep teachers. As for the union claim that Florida salaries rank below the national average, Bush said each school district negotiates teacher pay.

While the union has long been aligned with the Democratic Party, the billboard campaign may signal a more aggressive style by the FEA in criticizing Bush's record on education, the issue likely to dominate the governor's race in 2002.

The union's anger is also fueled by a recent decision by Education Commissioner Charlie Crist to threaten to deny state lottery money to school districts unless they prove that no teacher payroll deductions were used to pay for the union's political activities.

Standing in the billboard's shadow, union president Maureen Dinnen and leaders of about 20 FEA locals said that despite Bush's talk about improving the quality of education, the conditions are getting worse for teachers, not better.

Crist, a Republican candidate for attorney general, has since backed off his initial threat to refuse state money to districts, but Dinnen accused Crist of trying to "gag" teachers.

"If they try to weaken our organization, we will grow stronger," Dinnen said.

- Times staff writer Alisa Ulferts contributed to this report.

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