It depends on whom you ask. Both Jack Nichols and Josh Stein say they've been endorsed by teachers.

Nichols received the endorsement of the Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators, which represents about 5,000 Wake school employees.

Stein has been endorsed by the North Carolina chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT has a much smaller presence in North Carolina than the NCAE and doesn't have a Wake office. It's based in Chapel Hill.

Jennifer Lanane, president of Wake-NCAE, says that Stein's references to being endorsed by teachers is meant to give the erroneous impression that the more well-known N.C. Association of Educators is backing him.

While Stein's Web site and some of his campaign literature mentions the AFT, other times he just says he has been endorsed by teachers or by groups representing teachers.

In a robocall Friday to District 16 voters, Lanane accuses Stein of trying to "mislead" voters. She goes on to call Nichols the "true teachers' candidate."

"I'm very proud of the fact that I have been endorsed by a statewide teachers group," Stein replied. "It's unfortunate that the Nichols campaign and NCAE would try to distort that truth."

A third Democratic candidate, Mike Shea, also is running.

POLITICALLY SPEAKING

POLITICAL TRAIL

* REPUBLICAN MEN: The Wake GOP Men's Club will meet Tuesday at the Top of the Tower restaurant at the Clarion Hotel State Capital at 320 Hillsborough St., Raleigh (formerly the round Holiday Inn).

Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and the program starts at 8 a.m. sharp; Dismissal is at 8:45 a.m. (But you can stick around and talk if you want to.)

Breakfast buffet is $12 (cash or check, payable to Wake GOP Men's Club).

RSVPs are encouraged but not required: Contact Eric Weaver at eric@WakeGOPMen.org or 201-1568 by noon Monday.

For more details, visit www.WakeGOPMen.org. Candidates for state superintendent of public instruction will speak.