Labor welcomes candidates - make local endorsements

On Monday, July 27, the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO) and the Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council hosted a forum for all local candidates.  After the session, delegates voted on endorsements.

“We were very pleased with the response,” said Trades & Labor President Jason Pascal.  “We wanted to create an open opportunity to hear from each candidate and create the space where they could address our concerns directly.”

Of the ten McLean County board races, all ten Democratic candidates appeared, along with three Republican candidates. In the contested County Clerk race, both incumbent Republican Kathy Michael and her challenger, Democrat Joshua Crockett, spoke. Unopposed Republican Sheriff candidate Jon Albee and incumbent Treasurer Rebecca McNeil appeared.

Two specific questions were asked in advance, which most candidates addressed favorably.  Currently, local governments have Project Labor Agreements in place for governmental construction projects. These agreements require local hiring through programs with federally certified apprenticeship programs.  The candidates were asked if they would extend PLA provisions to include Tax Increment Financing or other subsidies to private development.  The second question was whether, if public employees were trying to organize a union, they would oppose using tax dollars to fund anti-union campaigns.  Most candidates from both parties supported both concepts.

“When it was endorsement time, the delegates really considered incumbent voting records,” said Building & Trades President Mike Raikes.  “We appreciated that the majority of candidates were favorable toward labor concerns.  In the final estimate, we wanted to support those who have voted for labor-friendly measures during their term.”

Democratic candidates for county board were endorsed, including Dennis Killian (district 1), Raul Martinez (District 2), Rick Perez (District 3), William Bessler (District 4), Buck Farley (District 5), Beverly Bell (District 6), John Poling (District 7), Lea Cline (District 8), Jennifer Brown (District 9), and Corey Beirne (District 10).  Joshua Crockett was endorsed in the clerk’s race. State Representative Sharon Chung was endorsed – she is already endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO.