(Feb. 28, 2007) -- 6th district City Council candidate Al Austin has received the endorsement of the L.A. County Federation of Labor. In a written release, the AFL-CIO's delegate body announced its Feb. 26 endorsements for various spring municipal elections, including LB's May 1 special election to succeed former Councilwoman, now Assemblywoman Laura Richardson.
In listing its endorsements, the L.A. County Federation added no comments...but LBReport.com asked candidate Austin for some and he provided them for us:
Mr. Austin: I'm proud to have the endorsement of the L.A. County Federation of Labor. Many of member unions in the Fedeartion represent a number of families who live in the 6th Council district. I've worked for the past 15 years in the field of labor advocacy and representation and I think the L.A. County Federation realizes that I'm the only candidate in this race that is truly committed to creating quality jobs here in Long Beach.
On its website, the L.A. County Federation says it has over 350 affiliated locals representing over 800,000 workers. Mr. Austin is among field staffers for the American Federation of State, Country and Muncipal Employees union (AFSCME) CA District Council 36.
Union vs. management issues are likely to surface in the key central LB area Council race -- whose winner will (like all Councilmembers) have a vote on development decisions from NLB to Belmont Shore and public safety and spending issues.
As previously reported by LBReport.com, 6th district Council candidate Lillian Parker has the endorsement of Teamsters Joint Council 42, the parent body to 23 Teamster Locals representing members in Southern CA, Southern Nevada, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii. Ms. Parker has also been endorsed by LIUNA Local 777 (Laborers’ Union), in which she is a member as a civilian Audit Supervisor for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Meanwhile, as also previously reported by LBReport.com, candidate Ahmed Carl Saafir, president of LB's City Hall-appointed Civil Service Commission, has been endorsed by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
All the 6th district Council candidates, who include Dee Andrews, Ed Acevedo. J.A. Caruthers and Lee Davis, are scheduled to appear at a Wrigley Association Candidates Forum Monday night, March 5 at 7 p.m. at Veterans Park (101 E. 28th St.). The event will be moderated by Wrigley Ass'n VP Alan Tolkoff.
Last year, the Wrigley Association held well-attended candidate forums in the Mayoral, 7th district Council, City Auditor and 55th district Assembly election contests, also deftly moderated by Mr. Tolkoff.
