Today Texas Parent PAC, the influential bipartisan political committee, announced its endorsements of Mike Collier for Lieutenant Governor and Justin Nelson for Attorney General.

The endorsements were made at a news conference in front of historic Pease Elementary School in Austin. Board of Directors member Dinah Miller said this is the first time Texas Parent PAC has endorsed candidates running statewide in the general election. Parents, grandparents and public school supporters are urged to vote for Collier and Nelson in the November 6 election.

Dinah said the PAC is working to defeat incumbent Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton because they are "bullies and ideologues who cannot be trusted to protect and strengthen our neighborhood schools."

She said in the Texas Senate Dan Patrick rules with an iron fist to promote his personal agenda. He blocks sound education legislation and pushes to passage bills that would harm neighborhood schools.

"Patrick misled voters by saying he supported an average $10,000 raise for teachers but offered no new state funding to pay for such raises. Voters should not be fooled by that campaign fib," Dinah added.

"Using the power of the Attorney General's office, Ken Paxton harasses school administrators and elected school board members. He uses intimidation tactics to stifle efforts to encourage voting by school staff and 18-year-old high school students. "

Dinah pointed out that Paxton has pushed school privatization schemes since 2005, when he served in the Texas House and was one of three authors of HB 1263. It was described as one of the most harmful, far-reaching, and expensive voucher bills ever introduced in Texas.