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Education Week's State EdWatch blog has a story about today’s election. I don’t think today is about teachers vs. one organization or its wealthy supporters. It’s about what is best for our kids.

For that reason, I’m proud to have teachers as one part of the broad coalition supporting me today: joining students, parents, nurses, California NOW PAC, firefighters, public safety, building trades and labor families, business leaders, small business owners, grassroots political organizations, and many others.

Please help spread the word and get out the vote!

With less than two weeks to go until election day, I wanted to share with you the news that one donor has made a one million dollar contribution to an "independent expenditure" campaign supporting my main opponent.

That's right. One individual. One million dollars.

I have worked so hard to build the largest and broadest coalition of supporters among any of the candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. My endorsers represent nearly 3 million people around the state. I have supporters in every region of our Golden State, including in my opponents' home areas.

I am proud of the team supporting me! And, as a former high school coach, I know how strong a team can prove in a race against an individual.

As we get ready for the last days of this primary campaign, we need to increase our outreach efforts, including buying more television advertising to counter this huge donation and the commercials it has purchased for my opponent.

Can you help today show the strength of numbers--of our team--by making a donation to help me increase my pre-election outreach efforts?

Your donation today of $10, $25, $100 (or whatever you could afford) will be a big boost to my efforts to reach California voters to tell them about some of my plans to restore California's public schools to the very top ranks in the nation. You can see the 30-second version and the 60-second version of the television ad.

I am proud that we have built a campaign supported by 3 million California parents, teachers, classified school employees, police, firefighters, nurses, building trades and labor families, business leaders, and small business owners.

As State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will work tirelessly to ensure parents can send their children to a safe, high-quality school in their own neighborhood. I will fight for every student!

I need your help today. Please donate what you can and help spread the word about my campaign to your friends and contacts. Help me today respond to the "one million dollar question" we now face.

Thank you. Together, we'll win this fight for our children's future!

There are now only 17 days remaining until the June 8 election. I am working every day to talk to voters about what I will do as State Superintendent of Public Instruction to use my experience as a teacher and legislator to fix the crisis facing our schools and children. I need your help today to reach more voters before they cast their ballots.

I want to spread the word about the real reforms that are working to parents, teachers, and other schools across California. I want to fight to fully fund our schools so parents know they can send their children to a safe, quality school in their own neighborhood.

As election day rapidly approaches, the first step is to make sure you are registered to vote. The postmark deadline for voter registration forms is Monday, May 24. If you are not registered to vote, or if you have recently moved, changed your name, or wish to change parties, your voter registration form must be postmarked by Monday in order to be eligible to vote in this election. Click here to download a voter registration form or to receive more information about the process.

As a teacher and coach, I know how important it is to bring people together to solve problems. That is why I have worked so hard to put together the broadest and largest group of endorsers of any candidate in this race: with individuals and groups representing educators, parents, public safety, business, and labor. I've also recently been endorsed by the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California Faculty Association, California Association of Bilingual Educators, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, among many others.

I am also working with my team to purchase television advertising time for the final weeks of the election. My 60-second ad focuses on a portion of my education reform agenda: restoring career technical education, improving our students' performance in math and science, and making sure every child has a healthy start.

Your donation to my campaign today will help my campaign team know just how much advertising time we can purchase between now and election day. This is an important way for me to reach new voters. Can you make a donation of $5, $25, $50, or any amount you can afford, to help me reach new people with our message about restoring our public schools to the top rank in the nation?

Best regards,
Tom

P.S. As a teacher who has visited nearly 150 schools around the state, I know the real reform measures we need to put into place as we fully fund our schools. You can help me so much today by making a donation and telling your friends and networks about my campaign.

Tom enjoyed a great conversation with KGO Radio's John Rothmann and his listeners from 10-11 p.m. tonight. Tom was able to talk about why he is running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and answer questions about our state's public education system.

You can listen to the hour-long interview by clicking here.