Labor Council Endorses in Chula Vista Elections

Union Members support Steve Castaneda for Mayor and
Humberto Peraza for Council; Oppose Local Job Killer

SAN DIEGO – (November 5, 2009) – The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council announced today its endorsements of Steve Castaneda for Mayor and Humberto Peraza for City Council in Chula Vista for the June 2010 elections.

Castaneda, a member of the Chula Vista City Council, has been a consensus builder around the redevelopment plans for the Chula Vista bayfront while also fighting to protect city services in light of devastating budget cuts. Castaneda has supported policies that help promote the local workforce and has fought to protect public safety services for residents.

“Chula Vista needs a new direction,” said Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. “Mayor Cheryl Cox has shown no leadership in trying to turn the city around during these tough times.”

Peraza has committed to rebuilding Chula Vista’s economy by creating good paying local jobs and by promoting the city as a destination for potential business. Peraza has experience in tackling regional issues for Chula Vista and the South Bay as an aide to federal and local elected officials such as Congressman Bob Filner and San Diego Council President Ben Hueso.

“Humberto Peraza represents a new generation of leaders that we need to see more of in Chula Vista and all over San Diego County,” Gonzalez said. “He understands the importance of creating sustainable jobs for Chula Vista that will make the city a better place to work and live.”

The Labor Council also announced that it will oppose a ballot measure proposed by anti-worker contractors who want to prohibit the city from requiring local workers. The initiative, which has not yet been named, would prohibit the City of Chula Vista from entering into agreements that would incentivize the use of workers who live in Chula Vista on public works projects.

“The Labor Council is committed to making sure the people of Chula Vista know that banning local hire agreements means that taxpayer money spent on public works will be sent on a one-way train out of town,” Gonzalez said. “The taxpayers of Chula Vista should not pay to give local jobs away.”

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, includes 127 affiliated unions representing more than 189,000 workers in the region. Labor Council-endorsed candidates and initiative positions were victorious in all seven of the organization’s priority races in 2008. For more information, visit www.unionyes.org.

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