Labor Council Recommends Ben Hueso for Assembly, Mary Salas for State Senate

Candidates have demonstrated commitment to turning around the economy;
will fight for South Bay communities

SAN DIEGO – (Thursday, January 28, 2010) – The Labor Council voted to recommend Ben Hueso in the race for Assembly District 79 and Mary Salas for Senate District 40 at a meeting last night.

Hueso, the President of the San Diego City Council, has helped lead the charge during his time at City Hall for responsible development and policies that will help put San Diegans back to work. Recently, Hueso introduced a proposal that would ensure that local workers be used on public works projects that use local taxpayer money.

“Ben Hueso has defined himself as a champion for workers while on the San Diego City Council,” said Lorena Gonzalez, the Secretary-Treasurer and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. “As Council President, Ben Hueso has fought to make sure the jobs created in San Diego are good jobs, and has stood up against anti-worker contractors as they launched a full scale attack on the middle class.”

Hueso has also played a key role in the City of San Diego’s scrutiny of the impacts of low-wage industries like tourism and big-box retail on the San Diego economy.

Assembly District 79 represents southern San Diego, western Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach and Coronado.

Salas, the current Assemblymember for District 79, has authored state laws that have helped returning military veterans, consumer rights, health care access and public schools during her service in the Legislature.

“Mary Salas works hard on the issues that impact her constituents, whether it be making education and housing more affordable for the South Bay’s large veteran community or guarding against identity theft for retirees,” Gonzalez said. “We hope Assemblywoman Salas will continue this important work in the State Senate.”

Senate District 40 includes Imperial County, southern San Diego County, and southern Riverside County.

The Labor Council’s recommendations are subject to ratification at the California Labor Federation’s endorsement convention in April.

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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