Mike McCardwell, a retired teacher from Shelbyville, says he thinks anger over the pension issue hasn’t waned after massive teacher protests earlier this year.
He says educators are still mad that Gov. Matt Bevin said opponents to the pension bill have a “thug mentality.”
McCardwell told Barton, “For 40 years I’ve encouraged students to honor the government and value the government because America’s a great country. I was disappointed the teachers were attacked by legislators and by the governor. As I said, I don’t like being called a thug after working for 40 years.”
All 100 districts in the state House of Representatives and half of the state Senate are up for re-election this year. With 36 candidates on statehouse ballots across the state, Democrats are hoping to capitalize on outrage over the bill. But clawing away at Republicans’ 63-37 supermajority in the House and 27-11 supermajority in the Senate will be difficult.
Joy Gray is a retired teacher from Owensboro who’s running as a Democrat against Republican Rep. Suzanne Miles. Gray says she’s concerned that the pension changes will make teaching less attractive and that lawmakers didn’t listen to massive opposition to the pension bill.
Gray said, “There are people that are upset with some of the shenanigans—you know, not having open hearings, not having input. Just doing what they want and you’re supposed to accept it.”
The 51 current and former educators running this year include candidates challenging sitting legislators, those running for open seats and a handful of current lawmakers. Some of them are write-in candidates.
