SMITHFIELD – The Johnston and Nash County chapters of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) announced Tuesday their endorsement of Allen Wellons of Smithfield for NC Senate District 11. NCAE is the state’s largest education advocacy organization for public school employees.
“The work I accomplished in the late 90s and early 2000s has been erased by the current Republican leadership in the state Senate,” Allen Wellons said, after receiving the endorsement. “Education is the great equalizer. Quality public education lifts our communities and gives young people the tools to lead productive, awarding lives. I want the voters to know; I will fight to fully fund our local public schools and community colleges. We must ensure all our students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed, especially in our rural and underserved communities. When we support local public education, we invest in our communities and our children’s future.”
Wellons has a record of supporting public education, workforce training, and community economic development, including passing legislation to raise NC teacher pay to the national average.
“We at JCAE are excited to endorse Mr. Wellons,” April Lee Jones, President of Johnston County Association of Educators (JCAE) said after the chapter granted their endorsement. “He has a proven track record of supporting public education…He believes in funding public education so that every child has the opportunity for a full and rich experience in our public schools.”
Members from the Nash and Johnston County chapters of NCAE both met to interview Mr. Wellons and issue the endorsement.
“It is important that we support candidates who are strong advocates of our students, educators, and public schools,” said Martha Byrd, President of the Nash-Rocky Mount Association of Educators. “Allen understands that our public education system needs to be fully funded, and that includes everything from sufficient resources to compensation.”
