New Round of Negative Advertising in Superintendent Race

AFT/CFT release misleading, negative smear ad against challenger Tuck

Los Angeles–The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and their California partner CFT, released a new ad this morning, adding to the growing pile of negative and inaccurate ads being hurled at State Superintendent candidate Marshall Tuck. The blatantly false ad wrongly accuses Tuck of being a ‘Wall Street Banker’ who would privatize California’s failing public schools. The Truth: Tuck is committed to public education and has spent more than a decade working in, opening, and turning around public schools in some of Los Angeles’ toughest neighborhoods. Tuck was 22 and 23 when he worked in an investment firm. Now 41, he has focused his career in education. This summer, the San Jose Mercury called the ‘banker’ smear a “hack cliche.” “This ad is no more than the latest childish attempt by Tom Torlakson’s Sacramento allies to distract voters from the fact that Tom Torlakson is on the wrong side of kids,” said Cynara Lilly, campaign manager. “Tom and his friends are once again resorting to distortions and mudslinging because they can’t defend that schools in California rank 45th in the nation.” The ad comes on the heels of a dishonest mailer recently sent to Californians by the incumbent himself. Read the fact check, here. AFT’s over-the-top smear is the latest attempt by incumbent Tom Torlakson’s deep-pocketed allies who, like Torlakson, are relying on distortions, to distract voters from the incumbent’s lackluster record. It’s no surprise that every major newspaper in California has rejected Torlakson and endorsed Marshall Tuck for State Superintendent. Watch the attack here, and read more about Marshall’s plan to turnaround schools here. About Marshall Tuck Marshall Tuck is the only candidate for State Superintendent with a proven record of increasing graduation rates, improving student achievement, and turning around failing schools. Tuck served most recently as founding CEO of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s groundbreaking collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School District to operate 17 struggling public elementary, middle, and high schools, serving 15,000 students. Under Tuck’s leadership, the Partnership schools increased four-year graduation rates by over 60%, improved school safety and student attendance, and launched the innovative Parent College, which became a national model for getting parents more involved in their kids’ education. Over the last 5 years, the Partnership schools ranked #1 in academic improvement among school systems with more than 10,000 students. Prior to launching the Partnership, Tuck was President of Green Dot Public Schools, a leading charter school operator based in Los Angeles. Tuck joined Green Dot in 2002, when it had one school, and helped them expand to 10 charter high schools by 2006. With a student-centered approach that empowered principals, teachers, and parents, Green Dot schools substantially outperformed comparable schools’ graduation rates and overall academic achievement. Before devoting his career to helping students, Tuck was an executive at Model N, a successful enterprise software company based in the Bay Area. Prior to that, he worked in finance, and spent a year teaching and doing service work internationally, primarily in Zimbabwe and Thailand. The son of a teacher, Tuck was born in Burlingame, CA and attended parochial elementary school and public middle and high schools. He graduated from UCLA and Harvard Business School. Tuck currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mae, and their son Mason.