Shelley concentrate on your real job

My state legislator, Shelley Vana(D) is back in the news. She is trying to get elected President of the Palm Beach County Teacher's union. Rep. Vana held that position for 6 years up till 2004.

I've blogged about Shelley three other times. Here, here, and here. Vana is a science curriculum coordinator for the Palm Beach County school district in addition to her legislative job. Whatever the heck a Science Curriculum coordinator is I am clueless. It sounds like a cushy and possibly questionable deal for her. She is in Tallahassee 60 days a year when the legislature is in session. That don't count special sessions and other work for her constituents. To me and I think any other reasonable person, Shelley is over reaching in wanting to be union President. Unless that's just a make work job like I suspect it is with the school board.

This latest news isl out of the Sun-Sentinel. Why isn't the Palm Beach Post asking questions about Vana and her 'job' with the school board? Could it have anything to do with her being a Democrat? Probably alot to do with it.

Open Post- Quietly Making Noise, Jo's Cafe, TMH's Bacon Bits, Bright&Early,

It's a battle of two heavyweights for the presidency of Palm Beach County's teachers union: former chief Shelley Vana vs. current boss Theo Harris.

"I'm simply responding to member requests that I run," said Vana, 54, who served six years before leaving office in 2004 because of term limits.

"People know me, so they'll decide. It's good to have a choice."

Harris, 52, welcomes the challenge by Vana, a Democratic member of the state House of Representatives from Lantana. She also is running this year to keep her seat in Tallahassee.

"You do your job and let people decide," said Harris, a career educator in the county with a reputation for quiet diplomacy. "I think I've done a great job."

The 7,500 members of the Classroom Teachers Association will cast ballots March 15-16 for union officers.

Separately, Vana -- a county science curriculum coordinator since August -- is involved in a quest to retain her union membership. The School District contends she can't be a union member because she takes too much time off for political work during the school year.

Vana said a grievance against the district is pending.

She's no stranger to fighting Superintendent Art Johnson's administration. In the final year of her union presidency, she led a fiery struggle over teacher raises. Negotiations for a new salary pact are due to heat up around the time of the upcoming union election.

Harris has had no notable clashes with the district. He did make headlines in January 2005 for his bid to be paid the union's top salary, above the $107,000 earned at the time by union Executive Director Helene Samango.

Harris dropped the request after receiving complaints from other union leaders and members. A raise last year boosted his base salary to about $97,000, up from the $79,000 salary when he took office in July 2004.