If so, the local teachers union’s endorsement of four candidates reminds us where the battle lines are drawn. According to Chalkbeat Colorado, at least five of the nine candidates in the largely urban Aurora Public Schools board race this fall have expressed varying degrees of opposition to the proliferation of public charter schools.

And on Tuesday, the Aurora Education Association issued a press release endorsing four of the candidates:

The Aurora Education Association (AEA) is proud to support Kyla Armstrong-Romero, Kevin Cox, Debbie Gerkin, and Marques Ivey in their campaigns for School Board of Aurora Public Schools.

“As educators, our members are committed to ensuring that all Aurora students have the quality schools that they deserve. We are confident that these four candidates share that vision for public education and will work for increased transparency and accountability on the Aurora School Board,” said Bruce Wilcox, Aurora teacher and President of the Aurora Education Association.

Charter schools are not mentioned in the union’s press statement; it simply observes:

This Aurora Public School’s election is occurring at a pivotal moment in Aurora Public Schools. The outcome of this election will likely shape public education in the metro-area in the years to come.

Of course, the union’s opposition to expansion of the autonomous and largely non-union schools is well established. And as Chalkbeat points out, district Superintendent Rico Munn  pushed the current board this summer to OK a charter for Denver’s highly regarded DSST program.

Which sounds a lot like the “pivotal moment” the union refers to.

The question now is whether any of the other candidates will stand up for charters, which are increasingly popular with parents. Will the new DSST charter become a political football?