HSTA Recommends Jill Tokuda for Hawaii's Second Congressional District

Hawaii State Teachers Association has issued the following press release:

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is excited to announce its support of Jill Tokuda for Hawaii’s Second Congressional District, which covers suburban and rural Oahu, including the Leeward and Windward coasts and all of Hawaii’s neighbor islands.

“I’ve known Jill since we were 7th-grade classmates in Kaneohe,” said HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. “From then on, I got to witness first-hand the key qualities that were for certain about Jill — she’s determined, she’s dedicated, and she’s driven to succeed. She believes that our public schools need our support as they are teaching our future.”

Jill believes that funding quality public education for students of all ages is one of the most valuable investments for the future of Hawaii. She will prioritize supporting universal access to free public education, from early childhood and preschool, community college, four-year universities, and programs for post-secondary workforce training and certifications.

Jill said, “As a mom of two boys that attend our public schools, I’m honored and thrilled to receive HSTA’s support and the backing of our hardworking teachers. If elected to Congress, I’ll fight every day to ensure that our teachers and students have the resources they need to be successful in the classroom.”

• Learn more about HSTA’s recommendation.
• Access a full recording of our announcement.
• Download high-resolution photos and additional video.

HSTA recommends candidates who are strong supporters of public education, our educators, labor, and are committed to creating a better future for our keiki. HSTA sent candidates questionnaires, and HSTA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) interviewed the candidates who answered those questionnaires. The GRC is made up of volunteer member leaders from each of HSTA’s 12 chapters across the state of Hawaii.

Based on those responses and the interviews, the committee recommended Jill to the HSTA Board of Directors. Board members then sent their recommendation to the National Education Association, the HSTA’s parent union, which made a final decision to support her in the congressional race.

About the Hawaii State Teachers Association: The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the exclusive representative of 13,500 public school teachers statewide. HSTA represents and supports teachers in collective bargaining, as well as legislative and professional development issues.