- Sen. Ted Cruz
«
Press Release on Homeschooler for Cruz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Rick Tyler |
News Release | Catherine Frazier |
January
4, 2016 |
Cruz for President
Announces “Homeschoolers for Cruz” Coalition Totaling an
Astounding 6,670 Members
Marlin Bontrager, William Estrada, and Vicki Crawford to serve as National Co-Chairs
The
group represents homeschool communities across the country who are
dissatisfied with their local school districts, the recent
implementation of Common Core, or just wish to be more involved in
their children’s upbringing.
This coalition already totals 6,670 members, and will be co-chaired by
Marlin Bontrager, William Estrada, and Vicki Crawford.
“The federal government does not have any role in dictating the content
of curricula. Education is a state and local issue and parents should
have direct input and control of what’s being taught to their children.
The single most important thing in a child’s education is parental
involvement,” Cruz said. “If you or I disagree with what some
bureaucrat in the federal Department of Education says, you can’t
change that, and that is not the way it should be. I have great
faith
in the leaders of this coalition, and the passionate supporters of
homeschooling who are uniting for this cause – to take back power from
the Washington Cartel and to restore choice to the people who know our
students best: parents.”
Marlin Bontrager
Marlin, his wife Becky, and their 10 homeschool educated children
reside on a dairy, grain, and hog farm in Kalona, IA. The whole family
loves working together as a team both on the farm and in their travels
with their family ministry and band. The Bontrager band got its start
on bluegrass gospel radio stations, at nursing homes and the Salvation
Army soup kitchen in Iowa City, entertaining patrons. After hearing
about Gospel Express, an organization which runs a prison ministry in
South Carolina and Florida, they decided to participate in a prison
tour. They now travel and perform throughout the country, often for
months at a time. The Bontrager’s host a yearly homeschool event that
draws over 1,500 homeschoolers per year. Marlin and Becky Bontrager are
also apart of the Cruz leadership team in Iowa.
"My family and I are so grateful that the Lord has given us a godly man
like Ted Cruz to run for president” said Bontrager. “As a homeschooling
father of ten and the leader in my home, it is vitally important to me
that we have a president who is concerned first and for most about
religious liberty and protecting the constitution. Within that is
included the rights that we need to have as parents to be able to
choose what education we desire for our children. I believe that Ted
Cruz has and will continue to fight for these rights and that is why I
endorse him for president."
William Estrada
William is a homeschool graduate from Pennsylvania who began working
for the Home School Legal Defense Association in January 2004.
Currently, he directs HSLDA’s Federal Relations department and serves
as HSLDA’s federal lobbyist. Will uses his passion for homeschooling to
advocate for all homeschoolers before Congress and the federal
departments. He has testified before Congress and met with senior
officials from federal agencies and the executive branch.
From October 2007 through December 2012, Will served as the director of
Generation Joshua, a division of HSLDA. He oversaw a doubling of
Generation Joshua’s membership, an increase in local clubs, and an
expansion of Generation Joshua’s reach and effectiveness. In July 2011,
he also took on lobbying for ParentalRights.org
as the organization’s Director of Federal Relations, where he advocates
before Congress for the Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution.
"I spend my days fighting for homeschool freedom. It's not easy because
much of the education establishment is against us. So, when I was
deciding whom to support for President of the United States, I
evaluated each candidate by his or her willingness to consistently
fight for conservative, constitutional principles--by his or her
eagerness to take on the political establishment in both parties as
part of those fights--and by his or her record of reducing the role of
the federal government in the everyday lives of American citizens. Only
one candidate truly fit the bill, and that's Ted Cruz” said
Estrada. “I
endorse Ted Cruz for President because I know that he will do what he
says he will do, despite strong political headwinds from DC insiders,
and will work each day to make this country a better place for every
American. As a long-time conservative political activist in the
Commonwealth of Virginia, I am further proud to endorse Ted Cruz for
President, and I urge my fellow Virginians to vote for Ted Cruz on
March 1.”
Vicki Crawford
Vicki Crawford is a homeschooling mother who has served Iowa home
educators for many years while chairing the Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day
Committee for NICHE, Iowa's statewide Christian home education group.
She has also worked with The FAMiLY LEADER, as well as with a number of
conservative political campaigns over the years.
"Senator Ted Cruz has been a beacon of hope and freedom that has
inspired and encouraged so many of us in our mutual desire to restore
America's promise” Vicki said. “His courage, conviction, character and
consistency are the hallmarks of a true leader, who faithfully
represents all the principles that founded this nation. It is a
privilege to offer him my support."
According to a 2013 report from the Home School
Legal Defense Association, over 1,770,000 students are homeschooled in
the United States.
The Cruz Campaign would also like to welcome 82 Iowa Homeschoolers for
Cruz leaders who are listed below.
Leslie Beck
Joshua Bontrager
Carson Bontrager
Mitchell Bongtrager
Allison Bontrager
Chelsy Bontrager
Becky Bontrager
Joseph Brown
Gary Bryan
Kim Bryan
Caleb Burke
Gary Buske
Jason Conner
Mary Cory
Thomas Cory
Jacob Cowman
Samantha Cowman
Dale Crawford
Jeanette Davis
Nate Day
Amy Deace
Steve Deace
Mark Deford
Joe Desaulniers
Sadie Desaulniers
John Desaulniers
Wes Desaulniers
Allison Desaulniers
Tina Dicks
Bethany Dorin
Mary Dorin
Tyler Dorin
Benjamin Dorin
Bryan English
Amy English
Allan Frandson
Amanda Friedl
Bethany Gates
Kristi German
Tom German
Will Ghormley
Judy Goodman
Rob Goodman
Dennis Guth
Mike Habermann
Greg Heartsill
Adam Horning
Brian Kelly
Jan Kendall
Spencer Keroff
Joel Kurtinitis
Kelsey Kurtiitis
Byron Linden
Tim Lubinus
Preston Martens
Kaylee Morris
Marie Morris
Josie Morris
Heather Nandell
George Nelson
Vance Nordaker
Michelle Ober
Rhonda Paine
Kristine Pfab
Ron Richardson
James Snow
Deanna Snow
Jeff Stillwell
Joseph Stillwell
Josiah Stillwell
Kim Stillwell
Kevin Subra
Judith Trumpy
James Unger
Adam Vandall
Tasha Vos
Erin Watkins
Daniel Watkins
Sue West
Darran Whiting
Debi Zahn
Karice Zahn
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