Two Good Questions to Ask Your Candidates

Consider this: This year's legislative candidate could be next year's legislator, and next year's legislators will decide whether 2013 will be the ‘Year of the Student’ or another lost year of education cuts.

After multiple years of cuts and chronic underfunding of education, Colorado students cannot wait even one more year for us to start restoring lost opportunities, programs and teaching positions; investing in quality teaching, early childhood education, and expanded learning opportunities; and making higher education affordable.

That’s why thousands of individuals and over 95 diverse organizations (so far!) across Colorado have come together in the 2013: Year of the Student Project to demand that the legislature make education funding their top priority in 2013.

As a voter, you are at the height of your power right now.  While candidates are seeking your vote, you have a special opportunity to inform them about the Year of the Student and the impact that education cuts have had on Colorado's students.

That's why we recommend you take every opportunity in the next seven weeks to ask candidates these two questions:

If elected, what will you do to fix Colorado's education funding crisis?

Will you join me in signing the ‘Year of the Student’ Call to Action?

There are lots of ways to get this issue in front of candidates. Simply print a Year of the Student ‘Inform and Ask’ Sheet and ask the questions:

• At the door, if candidates come to ask for your vote.

• At town hall meetings and candidate forums.

• On candidates' Facebook pages.

• In letters to the editor of your local paper.

• By contacting candidates via their websites.

Then you can tell us -- and your online community -- what they said. 

Need to find out who the legislative candidates in your district are?  Find out on the Project Vote Smart website (type your address in the search bar).

If we want next year's legislature to make 2013 the Year of the Student, we've got to put every potential legislator on notice right now.  Ask your candidates today and -- if you haven't already -- add your name to the Year of the Student Call to Action.

Together we'll make sure Colorado finally does right by our kids.

 

 

Step-by-Step guide to asking candidates

what they’ll do to fix Colorado’s education funding crisis

Step One:    PRINT OUT our "Inform and Ask" sheet.

Step Two: Find out who's running for the legislature in your area at votesmart.org.

Step Three: Ask your candidates where they stand on fixing Colorado's education funding crisis on their Facebook pages, websites or at town halls and candidate forums.

Step Four: Tell us -- and your online community -- what they said!

Add your voice to the Year of the Student: Sign the Call to Action or tell your friends to sign if you already have.