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Derek Hankerson; A "No Common Core" Choice for Florida Senate District 6
For those who opposed common core and watched the Florida 2014 legislative session end with two bills that would delay common core die in committee there may be an option. Common core opposition is growing as parents and teachers actually see how much damage it has done in New York and in our own Florida Schools. Florida politicians who have refused to act on common core would like to see the issue dropped. However, there are candidates who are stepping up to oppose the entrenched politicians. Common core is one issue that clearly shows where a politicians stands on parental rights and local control of education. Indeed, it shows who they think should run our lives, the government or the individual. Common core is already having an effect on primary election across the nation. As well it should. If we do nothing we will have the same result in 2015 as we did in 2014, which is more spending and more control. Sometimes, change is necessary, if only to return to common sense. With Derek Hankerson a candidate for Florida Senate District 6, that change is within our grasp.
Derek Hankerson, A life-long republican, has stepped up to run for State Senate District 6. His opponent, John Thrasher, has come out publically supporting common core, by circulating a letter which attempted to debunk the anti-common core position, a letter which was completely debunked itself a few days later. Senator Thrasher has made no attempt to protect our children with either the common core standards or on the student data privacy issues. On the other hand, Derek Hankerson, shows that he actually “Gets it” when he talks about common core. In an interview with Bill Korach, Derek Hankerson, shows a depth of knowledge and a sense of conviction that clearly show he is not just reciting talking points. It may well be that this issue helped Derek Hankerson make the decision to get into this race.
No doubt, the political establishment is wondering why Derek Hankerson is running against a well funded, entrenched State Senator like Thrasher. A better question would be; why is Senator Thrasher so well funded with $253,063 from 451 contributors for the 2014 election. Most of that money came in when he had no opposition in the primary and no Democratic opponent. Moreover John Thrasher is openly seeking the job as President of Florida State, and is the front runner for the job. There is nothing wrong with campaign contributions or pursuing a coveted position with a prestigious university. However, if Thrasher wins the primary, voters in district 6 may well lose an opportunity to have any voice in who will be their Senator for the next six years. If he gets the Florida State job and leaves after the primary your Senator will be chosen by a handful of people. If he stays and you are not one of the 451 contributors then he and his staff will be as unresponsive as always. People who have called to ask him to support stop common core legislation have not gotten past his combative aides. Senator Thrasher seems perfectly fine with ignoring that fact that The Republican National Committee (RNC), the State Committeemen, and half of the State’s local Republican Executive Committees (RECs) and ALL the county RECs in his district have passed resolutions against common core.
You may personally like John Thrasher, but it is hard to justify supporting common core when you see how it is making your children miserable.
If you want a choice then you have to choose, in this primary. If you want the same things as last year do nothing. If you want to be able to have a say in what your children learn, if you want to have a say in who has access to their personal information, or if you want your child to determine their own future then support Derik Hankerson.
Derek Hankerson
135 Jenkins Street 105B-#116
St. Augustine, Florida 32086
(904) 377-3465 Office
(904) 825-2345 Fax
