School employee union endorses McKenna for WA governor

By The Associated Press Published: Jun 12, 2012 at 12:24 AM PDT
School employee union endorses McKenna for WA governor
Rob McKenna, state attorney general and Republican candidate for Washington state Governor, speaks Thursday, March 29, 2012, at a breakfast held in Seattle by the public-school supporting Alliance for Education organization. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna has captured the endorsement of a state union representing public school employees, including teacher's assistants and bus drivers.

The Public School Employees of Washington announced Monday that the union voted 11-4 on Saturday to endorse McKenna over his Democratic rival, former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee. The union represents 26,000 members in school districts across the state. The union has previously endorsed current Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire in both 2004 and 2008.

Last month, education advocacy group Stand for Children endorsed McKenna. The state's largest teacher union, the Washington Education Association, has endorsed Inslee.

Both candidates have focused on education in their campaigns.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.