Teachers' union backs Bullard opponent for Democratic chair
TALLAHASSEE — After spending nearly $1 million in an unsuccessful attempt to re-elect Miami Democrat Dwight Bullard to the state Senate, Florida’s statewide teachers’ union is supporting his opponent for chair of the state’s Democratic Party.
The Florida Education Association poured $825,000 into Bullard’s 2016 Senate campaign, a race he lost to Republican Frank Artiles by 10 points. Bullard is a public high school social studies teacher and union member.
He is now running against Stephen Bittel, a major Democratic donor, to lead the Florida Democratic Party, after Allison Tant announced she would step down as chair following the party's stinging losses in this year’s elections.
In order to serve as party chair, one must be an officer in his or her local county party — which neither Bittel nor Bullard currently is. Last week, newly elected Miami-Dade state committeeman Bret Berlin stepped aside to create a vacancy, and both Bittel and Bullard announced they would run for that seat. The election is tomorrow.
rest of story: http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/12/floridas-teachers-union-endorses-bullards-opponent-in-democratic-party-chair-race-108188