(D-Teachers Union)
There’s some controversy in the Guam legislature because of newly elected Senator Matt Rector. Rector is the president of the Guam Federation of Teachers, an AFT affiliate, and plans to retain that position while serving in the legislature.
The Guam Senate is controlled by Democrats, but majority leader Rory Respicio thinks it’s improper for a senator to also head a public employees’ union.
“If I were in Sen.-elect Matt Rector’s position I would resign my position… because as a senator there are a lot of things that he’s going to be doing, particularly if he’s interested in looking at the PRIMA law or the Public Employment Management Relations Act,” Respicio said. “How can Sen.-elect Rector be on both sides of the issue as a member of the Legislature, as well as a union president negotiating the contracts?”
I know of many teacher union officers and staffers who have served in state legislatures, but the only other officer I know of who held an equivalent position to Rector’s was Ignacio Salinas, who served in the Texas House of Representatives while holding office as president of the Texas State Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate. He was defeated for reelection after redistricting (see item #3 here).
If readers know of other examples, please post them in the comments.
