by Susan Kuczka

The state's largest teachers' union switched horses today in the 10th Congressional District Democratic primary.

Last year, the Illinois Federation of Teachers backed Dan Seals, who came close but lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park. This time, however, the union is behind Seals' primary opponent, Jay Footlik, in the Feb. 5 Democratic primary.

The union represents 90,000 teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff and public employees across Illinois. The 10th District runs north along the Lake Michigan shoreline from Wilmette to Waukegan and west to Libertyville in Lake County and Arlington Heights in Cook County.

Footlik, a Skokie native who attended public schools, welcomed his second education endorsement of the week. Local 504 of the Lake County Federation of Teachers, an IFT affiliate with more than 5,000 members, also endorsed Footlik.

"Our teachers and education workers deserve a representative in Congress willing to stand up for them," Footlik said.

Seals, who said IFT executive board members seemed "happy with all my positions" when he recently met with the group, said he had no idea why the IFT decided to endorse Footlik.
"It'd be better to ask them," he said.

In a prepared statement, IFT Director of Political Activities Steve Preckwinkle said, "The IFT Executive Board believes Jay Footlik has the experience and the dedication to really change things in Washington."