In upset, Fletcher elected next president of United Teachers Los Angeles
In an apparent rebuke to the current leadership, members of United Teachers of Los Angeles have elected Warren Fletcher as their next president.
Fletcher, a teacher at the City of Angels alternative school, surged from second place to finish ahead of Julie Washington, the union vice president representing members at elementary schools. In unofficial but final tallies announced late Tuesday in the mail-in election, Fletcher had 4,711 votes or 53.6% and Washington had 4,247 votes or 47.4%.
Washington was bidding to be the first African American to lead the union and would have been the third woman to hold the top post. She enjoyed the implicit support of the current union leadership, but that proved a double-edged sword as many teachers with grievances or concerns about the direction of the union coalesced around Fletcher.
Fletcher will take office in July, succeeding A.J. Duffy, who was barred by term limits from seeking a third three-year term.
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-- Howard Blume
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Congratulations Warren! I'm prepared to be led in a different direction and ready to do what must be done. If we have to strike, I'll be there with you. Yes, the kids matter, but our job rights aren't negligible.
Hopefully, creepy Julie Washington has been humbled and will shrink back to the classroom -- never to be heard from again. That's karma...
Posted by: LAcityLiving | March 30, 2011 at 06:27 AM
This is great news for L.A. students and school reform efforts. Now we just need to elect Luis Sanchez to the school board in the 5th District to allow big reform efforts to continue.
Posted by: Mark | March 30, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Fletcher merely exploited teachers' fears and insecurity and anti-incumbent sentiment. He gave few specifics on how to make UTLA a stronger union except for hiring a "professional negotiator" as if a $1,000 an hour barrister is going to make any difference. He's known as an intelligent guy, but wonkish. He's over his head in becoming president.
Posted by: Mark | March 30, 2011 at 05:43 PM
Luis Sanchez? He is a supporter of private charter schools. We voted for Fletcher to fight for us and our students, to turn back value added and to give a voice to real teachers.
Posted by: LAUSD teacher | March 30, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Luis Sanchez DONT" THINK SO.
I also highly doubt W. Fletcher supports Sanchez.
L.Sanchez supported laying off 7000 LAUSD workers. He works under M.Garcia.
City of L.A. and LAUSD do not need any more clones or puppets
I will Vote Bennett Kayser a true and honest reformer
Posted by: Gee | March 30, 2011 at 11:20 PM