Todd Gloria, Olga Diaz, Mona Rios Among New Labor Council Endorsements

Candidates Will Guide Region’s Economy to Prosperity for Working Families

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 28, 2008) -- The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, announced several endorsement decisions regarding local candidates and propositions today, including endorsements for Todd Gloria in the race for San Diego City Council District 3, Olga Diaz for Escondido City Council, and Mona Rios for National City City Council.

The Labor Council’s members have also chosen to make no endorsement in the San Diego City Attorney’s race; to endorse Dave Allan and Shannon O’Dunn for La Mesa City Council; and to endorse Mayor Jim Wood and City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez in Oceanside.

The endorsement for Todd Gloria comes on the heels of a primary in which the three candidates in the District 3 election won a triple-endorsement – Gloria, John Hartley and Stephen Whitburn. With the field narrowed to just Gloria and Whitburn, the Labor Council supported choosing just one candidate to rally around for the Nov. 4 general election.

“The residents of District 3 are blessed to have two candidates running who understand and support the issues of working San Diegans, but our members believe Todd Gloria warrants a sole endorsement in that race,” said Lorena Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “Todd Gloria was raised in San Diego by a hotel housekeeper and a landscaper, and that provides him with a perspective with which our members can truly relate. We need leaders that are committed to turning around this economy so it works for all of San Diego, and we know Todd Gloria has the experience and the energy to do just that.”

The Labor Council decided to make no endorsement in the City Attorney race because both Mike Aguirre and Jan Goldsmith have blemished labor records.

“Our members did not feel comfortable endorsing either candidate at this time given the unfortunate decisions they have both made throughout their careers,” Gonzalez said. “That said, we are hopeful that the winner of that race will put politics aside, provide objective legal advice, and work together to improve San Diego.”

Other endorsements announced today include: Fred McLean and Maxx Stalheim for Imperial Beach City Council; George Gastil for Lemon Grove City Council; Linda Vanderveen and Tom Giles for Poway Unified School Board; Nick Aguilar and Mitch Thompson for Southwestern Community College Board; and Mary Kay Rosinski for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

On local ballot measures, the Labor Council recommended No on Proposition C (earmarking Mission Bay lease revenues in the City of San Diego budget), Yes on Proposition L (protecting city services in La Mesa) and No on Proposition M (elimination of revenue for city services in National City).

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council represents more than 120,000 union workers in the region. For more information, visit www.unionyes.org.

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