San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Endorses 2020 Candidates
Unions Pledge Support to Leaders who Champion the Needs of Working Families
(SAN DIEGO - October 24, 2019) This week, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council announced the endorsement of 28 candidates seeking election to local, state and federal offices in 2020.
Nurses, firefighters, teachers, caregivers and grocery workers were among the many local delegates who gathered Wednesday night to vote on which leaders would earn the support of the council’s more than 200,000 working families.
Workers evaluated candidate’s records on affordable housing, liveable wages, education, healthcare, transportation and retirement security - as well as their willingness to stand up to special interests to help the middle class.
“We support leaders who aren’t afraid to take tough stands for working people - who go to the mat for local families - and with the power of our workers we help them win,” said Executive Secretary Treasurer Keith Maddox.
Leading the list of strategic endorsements were Todd Gloria in the race for San Diego Mayor, Georgette Gomez in the 53rd Congressional District*, and Terra Lawson-Remer in County Board of Supervisors District 3.
The Council’s leaders and delegates saw each of these races as an opportunity for working families to have a voice on the issues that impact their daily lives.
The housing crisis, flat wages and increased healthcare costs are among the issues the Labor Council’s workers call “One Fight” that must be addressed by the elected leaders at all levels of government.
Assemblymember Todd Gloria was endorsed as labor’s candidate for San Diego Mayor, in recognition of his leadership on worker issues at the state level, and his commitment to championing workers at City Hall.
“Our campaign is about fighting for working people and their ability to live, work, and have a future in San Diego,” said Gloria. “As Mayor, I want working and middle-class San Diegans to thrive in this city. That means building housing people can actually afford and developing a true public transit system. It’s time our city gets back to working for working people and the middle-class, and that’s why I am proud to have the endorsement of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council.”
San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, a leader on affordable housing and economic opportunities for underserved communities also received the support of the council.
“The cause of working families - better healthcare, fair wages, affordable housing - is part of who I am and where I come from. I’m the daughter of working class immigrants who scraped and struggled to give their children a fair shot at the American Dream. That’s why I’m humbled to have the support of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council and why I’m dedicated to combating income inequality, winning universal healthcare and building a fair economy that works for all Americans, not just those at the top,” said Gomez.
Terra Lawson-Remer, an economist and former Senior Advisor in the Obama Administration won the support of the council in a race seen widely as an opportunity to secure a worker-friendly majority on the County Board of Supervisors for the first time.
“I am deeply honored to be supported by the 200,000 hardworking members of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. The fight for working families is core to my values and my campaign, and I look forward to championing the causes of all workers as our next County Supervisor. I am very proud to be a candidate for the working people of District 3 and the rest of the County,” said Lawson-Remer.
The Council is also aiming to re-elect San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott and preserve its labor supportive majority by endorsing in three critical San Diego City Council races. Workers gave the nod to San Diego Deputy City Attorneys Marni Von Wilpert and Raul Campillo in Districts 5 and 7 and Laborers Union staff member Kelvin Barrios in District 9.
In addition California Senate President Pro-Tem Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, joined Assemblymembers Tasha Boerner-Horvath, Brian Maienschein, Eduardo Garcia and Assembly candidate Chris Ward in receiving the council’s support.
At the federal level, local workers voted to support incumbent Congressmembers Juan Vargas (CD-51) and Mike Levin (CD-49) as well as insurgent candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar (CD-50).
Working class champions were also identified and endorsed in additional races for boards of education and supervisors, water districts, city councils and city attorneys offices in both San Diego and Imperial Counties.
The Labor Council brings the full strength of its 200,000 working families across an array of professions to its endorsed candidates, harnessing the power of workers to engage voters and lead candidates to victory on election day.
In 2018 more than 67% of labor council endorsed candidates and initiatives passed or won their elections.
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Federal & State Recommended Races to California Labor Federation
CD 49 - Mike Levin*
CD 50 - Ammar Campa-Najjar*
CD 51 - Juan Vargas*
CD 53 - Georgette Gomez*
SD 39 - Toni Atkins*
AD 76 - Tasha Boerner Horvath*
AD 77 - Brian Maienschein*
AD 78 - Chris Ward*
AD 80 - Lorena Gonzalez*
County of San Diego Endorsed Race
San Diego Board of Supervisor District 3 - Terra Lawson-Remer
City of San Diego Endorsed Races
San Diego Mayor - Todd Gloria
San Diego City Attorney - Mara Elliott
San Diego City Council District 5 - Marni Von Wilpert
San Diego City Council District 7 - Raul Campillo
San Diego City Council District 9 - Kelvin Barrios
City of Chula Vista Endorsed Race
Chula Vista D3 - Steve Padilla
Education Board Endorsed Races
San Diego Unified School District Seat E - Sharon Whitehurst-Payne
San Diego Community College District B - Bernie Rhinerson
San Diego Community College District D - Mary Graham
San Diego County Board of Education District 1 - Gregg Robinson
San Diego County Board of Education District 2 - Guadalupe Gonzalez
Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District 3 - Julie Schorr
Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District 4 - Elena Adams
Imperial County Endorsed Races
AD 56 - Eduardo Garcia*
Imperial Irrigation District Division 2 - Bruce Kuhn
Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 4 - Ryan Kelley
Meadows Union School District Board- Arkie Mayes
Imperial Irrigation District Division 4 - Erik Ortega
*Candidates in State and Federal races are receiving the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council recommended endorsement to the California Labor Federation, which is the official endorsement body in these races. In 2018, 100% of this Council's recommended endorsements were ratified by the California Labor Federation.*
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About:
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council represents more than 200,000 working families standing together. At the Labor Council, nurses, teachers, firefighters, service workers and construction tradespeople join healthcare workers, hotel workers, janitors and zoo employees in their common fight for a voice on the job and at the decision making table. The Council and its 136 member unions seek to improve the lives of working people by advocating for higher wages, housing that is affordable, quality healthcare and a secure retirement for all.