NEWS

Mike Matthews wins election for DSEA president

Jessica Bies
The News Journal

After an unprecedented runoff election, Red Clay Consolidated School District's Mike Matthews has been elected president of the state's largest education union.

Delaware State Education Association members were informed of the results early Friday. Matthews beat Karen Crouse, the Lake Forest School District financial secretary who tied with Matthews in the first vote in January. Crouse was endorsed by outgoing President Fredrika Jenner. The position of vice president will go to Stephanie Ingram, who ran on the same ticket as Crouse but was elected in the first round of voting.

"I am thrilled and so happy for this," Matthews told supporters on Facebook. Later, he said he was looking forward to working with Ingram, whose "energy and passion are infectious."

MORE: Teachers union candidates point to flaws in election

MORE: DSEA president election ends in tie

The election was contentious at times, making its conclusion a relief to Matthews. Not only was turnout low during the first round of voting, but logistical problems kept some teachers from casting a ballot, he said.

Mike Matthews

About 2,200 members, or 20 percent of the union, voted in the initial election, according to Matthews. In the runoff, 2,464 members voted, a modest increase. The results will be certified April 5.

Karen Crouse

The second election was smoother, Matthews said, and though some members still had problems with email balloting, many of those issues were resolved by contacting DSEA.

“I’m pleased," Matthews said. "I’m glad that turnout went up a bit. I’m glad there were far fewer issues with voting this time."

Now that the election is done, Matthews said he plans on sticking to the platform on which he and running mate Jackie Hildebrand-Kook campaigned.

"We need a more equitable funding system to meet the needs of students in poverty, English language learners and in special education," he said.

Matthews said DSEA will need to "lobby hard to get people to realize public schools are the choice of the majority of people in this state."

He also wants to meet with Gov. John Carney and his Cabinet as soon as possible. The administration has proposed education cuts, which Matthews said he is staunchly against.

"We can't lose librarians," he said. "We can't lose psychologists, we can't lose social workers. ... I firmly believe you cannot cut your way to prosperity."

He thinks Carney may actually think the same way, though the governor has said several times there is not enough money for things like weighted funding.

"I am hopeful that maybe the governor is saying this to get the Joint Finance Committee to look at different options," he said. "I know that the governor doesn't want to do this. No one wants education cuts."

Matthews admits he has a strong "tone," which some union members have had issues with, but said it comes as a result of bad policies and decision-making on the part of the state.

"I'm someone who for the past three to four years has perhaps been more vocal than some others, which has caused some people concern," he said.

But he believes he can cooperate and maintain good relationships within DSEA without having to compromise his key values.

"I really want to be a voice for all DSEA members," he said.

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.