{"id":3940,"date":"2014-10-28T12:45:05","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T16:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/?p=3940"},"modified":"2014-10-29T08:59:09","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T12:59:09","slug":"get-vote-malcs-analysis-gubernatorial-candidate-jeff-mccormicks-campaignpolicy-platforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/news\/get-vote-malcs-analysis-gubernatorial-candidate-jeff-mccormicks-campaignpolicy-platforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Your Vote On! MALC’s Analysis of Gubernatorial Candidate Jeff McCormick’s Campaign\/Policy Platforms"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of MALC’s Get Your Vote On Blog!<\/a> series, we are taking the time to look closely at the campaign platforms of four of the five candidates running for governor*. (MALC did not reach out to the Lively\/Saunders Campaign.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Members of the MALC Steering Committee met with these four candidates for Governor<\/a> earlier this year and shared our policy vision** for our sector with them. We urge everyone in our community to take the time to become familiar with the candidates’ platforms, then vote in the November 4th General elections<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Your vote really matters on this very tight governor\u2019s race!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(To find out where to vote: http:\/\/www.wheredoivotema.com\/bal\/myelectioninfo.aspx<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Today we’re analyzing Candidate Jeff McCormick’s arts policy platform:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Candidate info:
\nJeff McCormick (Independent)<\/strong>
\nCampaign Website: www.JMacForGov.org<\/a><\/em>
\nCandidate McCormick’s guest blog for MALC:<\/em> http:\/\/wp.me\/p2W9Iu-11h<\/em><\/a>
\nRunning Mate: Lt. Governor Candidate: Tracy Post (Independent)<\/em>
\nAnswered Lt. Governor MALC questionnaire (PDF): http:\/\/www.artistsunderthedome.org\/Post.pdf<\/a>
\nCampaign website: http:\/\/www.postforlg.org\/about_tracy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

1. Does the candidate have a specific policy\/issues platform for our sector?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, Candidate McCormick has not published a platform specifically for our sector under his Issues<\/a> section at the time of this blog post (Tuesday, October 28th, 12:45 p.m.\u00a0– MALC will update this blog post if he does unveil one.)<\/em><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.jmacforgov.org\/issues<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Does the candidate specifically mention our sector in any of their other policy platforms?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes. Candidate McCormick does in his Public Education<\/strong><\/a> platform in three places and addresses several of MALC’s Priorities found in our Governor’s Challenge,<\/a>** (MALC<\/span> comments in green):<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Arts Education Programs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A strong exposure to and a quality education in the Arts, is an incredibly influential, yet too often neglected, component in any child\u2019s creative development. Having served as the Vice-Chair of the Citi Center for Performing Arts, Jeff knows, first hand, the benefits of having a strong Arts culture and as Governor will be a champion of the Arts community. The funding for these programs must be thought of as equally important as that in the STEM fields. The potential economic benefits that a vibrant Arts community can have for our Commonwealth are significant and well worth the investment. It all starts with a strong commitment to Arts education in our schools or STEAM. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math — ed.)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Chapter 70 Funding Reform<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This reform process begins with bringing local leaders to the table to reexamine the formula. Then work to increase the state contribution to help each district achieve its goals. By modernizing the state\u2019s contribution, we can ensure that our local school districts can properly fund our Early Childhood Education goals, properly compensate excellent teachers, and maintain a rigorous implementation of STEAM courses. <\/span><\/em>(Emphasis added by MALC — ed<\/span><\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Adapting the Common Core for the Commonwealth<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Composed of High School and Elementary School teachers, professors, scientists, engineers, parents, state legislators, early childhood educators, members of the arts communit<\/span><\/em>y<\/span>, local school board members, and charter school representatives, this coalition with be tasked with designing the future of Massachusetts education strategy, curriculum, and testing standards that will allow our school systems to continue to lead the country and compete globally for the foreseeable future. (Emphasis added by MALC — ed<\/span>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Source: http:\/\/www.jmacforgov.org\/public_education<\/a><\/p>\n

Of Note:<\/strong> In his Jobs\/Economic Revival Plan<\/a>, Candidate McCormick addresses a MALC priority found in our Governor’s Challenge<\/a> regarding the need of high speed internet:<\/em><\/p>\n

Ensure High Speed Internet<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is no longer acceptable that regions of our Commonwealth are without high-speed Internet connections. Areas in Western Mass, the Berkshires, and the Cape cannot be expected to participate in a competitive business market when they lack what is now an essential component to any successful business. In order to help minimize this disparity, we must ensure high-speed Internet connection for all of our citizens.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Source: http:\/\/www.jmacforgov.org\/jobs_plan<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Analyze the candidate’s other platforms and their “news\/press\/update” sections of their website to assess how their policies may impact and\/or could be leveraged to impact our sector:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several of Candidate McCormick’s platforms are worth noting:<\/em><\/p>\n

The following items on the Jobs & Economic Growth<\/strong><\/a> platform are welcome but should be expanded to address the needs of artists of all disciplines, the arts\/cultural community and the creative economy as noted below (MALC<\/span> comments in green<\/span>):<\/em><\/p>\n

\n