DFER’s Ed Reformer of the Month, Eric Johnson

DFER's Ed Reformer of the Month, Eric Johnson, a Harvard, Penn and Princeton grad who's running against the worst sort of entrenched incumbent for a seat in the Texas legislature, is especially worthy of your support.  I just gave him $100:

Drumroll please....

This month, our reform-affections are fixated on the State of Texas (which, if you are following Race To The Top, you understand needs some serious change in Austin) and the race for one of the Dallas seats in the Texas House of Representatives. DFER is finding itself swooning over Eric Johnson, an education reformer/lawyer and one of the most exciting challengers in a Democratic primary right now. 

Eric grew up in West Dallas and was fortunate enough to have received a Boys and Girls Club scholarship to attend Greenhill School starting in second grade, from which he graduated in 1994. He then went on to graduate from Harvard cum laude before earning a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Affairs with a focus on education policy and international affairs from Princeton University. After spending time as a lawyer at Haynes and Boone, he has now decided to represent the neighborhood he grew up in, which desperately needs his support and representation.

The incumbent in the race, who has a strong anti-reform record, is currently facing trial on public corruption charges for allegedly accepting bribes from a developer. (This hasn't stopped a lot of traditional Democratic groups from endorsing the incumbent.) The primary is March 2nd.

As the Dallas Morning News put it in their endorsement: " A lawyer and an active volunteer in the community, Johnson is attuned to the challenges facing many of the neighborhoods in the district. He has spent time getting up to speed on an array of legislative issues, but he has made K-12 education his priority. Johnson, who is 34, astutely points out that the dropout rate is a critical issue; he argues that failing to finish high school amounts to a one-way ticket to economic hardship or incarceration." While Johnson aspires to spur change and help at-risk students succeed, (Incumbent Terri) Hodge seems to personify the soft bigotry of low expectations. Her goals – both for herself and her district – are disappointingly modest."

Please show Eric Johnson some education reformer love by contributing early and often to his campaign. Again, the primary election is March 2nd, so please give today! It's easy to help support his campaign through DFER's Ed Reformer of the Month web page - http://www.actblue.com/page/dferjan10

Joe