The Fort Bend Employee Federation has endorsed Bruce Albright and Carlos Cain in the upcoming Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees election.

The federation, an arm of the American Federation of Teachers that counts between 1,900 and 2,000 FBISD teachers and employees as members, made the endorsements through its Committee On Political Education, a political action committee.

Federation organizer Anthony Lacsamana said members of COPE voted during a dinner on Monday to endorse Albright for board Position 6, and Cain for Position 2. He indicated more than 1,500 federation members make regular contributions to the PAC and thus had the right to vote on the endorsements, although much fewer actually cast votes.

Cain, Albright and Position 6 candidate Marilyn Glover made presentations last week at a federation-sponsored candidates’ forum. Board President Sonal Bhuchar, who is running against Cain for Position 2, and Position 6 challenger Rodrigo Carreon, didn’t appear at the forum. Federation President Karrie Washenfelder said at the forum that Bhuchar and Rodrigo also did not fill out questionaires the organization asked for.

Albright and Cain both were highly critical of the current FBISD Board, and both portrayed the board as providing weak oversight of the district administration.

“This board serves/services this administration, not the other way around,” Albright said in his questionaire to the employee federation. “They give every outward appearance of being a rubber stamp for whatever the administration brings before it. I’m not suggesting this applies to all the BOT members, just the majority, or four of seven.”

He did not specify whom he considered in the majority.

“I’m not an educator, I was never a teacher. I’m not the most qualified person,” Cain said at the conclusion of last week’s forum. “The lady I’m running against is probably the most qualified. She’s a rubber-stamper.

“I’m going to get in there and dig. I’m going to upset their tea party,” Cain added.

Cain and Albright answered affirmatively to one key labor federation question last week: Would they vote to allow FBISD employees to elect their own representatives to meet with district officials?

“I think that’s the way it ought to be,” Albright said.

“Yes,” Cain said simply.

Glover said she doesn’t think any employee should be so intimidated that they can’t meet with an administrator in person.

The employee federation’s endorsement means the candidates likely will get printed campaign materials, and federation members will “go out and block-walk for them,” Lacsamana said.

The organization also shares data with sister AFT organizations in other nearby school districts, many of whom live in Fort Bend County, he added.

“We’re able to reach every member,” Lacsamana said. “Potentially we have access to a block of 8,000 to 10,000 voters.”

The election will be held May 9.