The Denver teachers union president scolded school board candidate Brad Buchanan on Thursday night after receiving an automated phone call on her personal answering machine from his campaign claiming that he has the support of “thousands” of Denver teachers.
Denver Classroom Teachers Association president Kim Ursetta said in a news release that at-large candidate Buchanan was deceiving voters with that message because the teachers union endorsed Jill Conrad for the at-large seat.
“He didn’t receive the endorsement of thousands of teachers,” she said. “I thought it was very misleading.”
Buchanan, at a candidate forum Thursday, said he “has tons of support from teachers.”
The call, which went to some Denver homes, features a woman saying, “Teachers like me support Brad Buchanan. …” The woman in the phone message is a teacher at Park Hill K-8 school, Buchanan said.
“With all due respect to the teachers union, they represent only a fraction of the more than 13,000 DPS employees,” said Ben Kelly, Buchanan’s campaign manager. “Our campaign is overwhelmed by the support we have received by teachers and principals, … including members of the teachers union.”
The teachers union has about 3,000 members out of roughly 4,300 teachers and other staff in the district.
Ursetta also made automated phone calls to some Denver homes Thursday endorsing Conrad.
Staff writer Allison Sherry can be reached at 303-820-1377 or asherry@denverpost.com.
