AFL-CIO Denies Endorsement in State Senate Race (Jehlen)

[louis c]

The AFL-CIO's Central Labor Council tonight (7/11) voted "no" endorsement in the special election for the Second Middlesex Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Shannon.

This is seen as a serious set-back to Representative Pat Jehlen since she went into the process the odds on favorite to receive the coveted endorsement in the primarily blue collar district. Sources close to the meeting report that her 95% AFL-CIO voting record in the House was trumped by unions that represented the building trades and especially the racing industry.

It is reported that Mike Callahan, the Governor's Councilor, showed surprising strength, judging by the enthusiasm of the crowd for him. Jehlen supporters are reported to have supported the position of "no" endorsement in order to avoid a debate, and even worse from their perspective, an outright AFL-CIO endorsement of Callahan.

[woosh]

1. I was pretty sure that you were working for Callahan

Care to post a link so we all can read the article?

[louis c]

2. Those are the reports that I received

from those who attended the meeting, including Jehlen supporters.

Care to dispute the facts?

I'm all ears.

I may support Callahan, but no matter who ran in this election, I'd be against that double talking Patricia Jehlen.

[woosh]

3. I thought perhaps there was some official article.

The "IBEW Member" was confusing, considering that you are probably that member. I thought perhaps is was some official union publication. It's really just your opinion of why things transpired, really.

To be honest, I respect the fact that you are standing up for the rights of the union members you preside over, but I don't agree with your characterization of Jehlen, nor do I agree with the way you choose to support your candidate. Furthermore, you note in your very summary that there are union members that ~do~ support Jehlen, so it appears that she must be doing something right.

Certainly, I've read enough about Callahan to sling some mud as well, but I don't see that as a way to choose a candidate. Jehlen's record speaks for itself. What's Callahan's voting record? Has he ever been elected to anything?

[louis c]

4. Callahan Never Tried to Take One Union Job Away

from anyone.

You may disagree with him on social issues, and I can understand that.

Union endorsements should be made on a candidate's entire labor record. No one deserves a union endorsement, in my humble opinion, if that candidate wants to abolish any union jobs.

Jehlen is a good union candidate for some unions, such as teachers and janitors. She is, however a bad candidate for the building trades and a villain to those of us in the racing industry.

Callahan is good for all the unions, all the time. That's the difference.

[woosh]

5. I was curious whether Callahan ever

held an elected office where he had to make a decision that would take away a job. Seriously, has he held an elected office?

[louis c]

6. Sure

He is a Governor's Councilor. he has had to make decisions at that level involving Judiciary appointments, magistrates, and other confirmations.

he held a position in the racing commission and was instrumental in reopening Suffolk downs in 1992, saving the very jobs Jehlen is now trying to take away.

By the way, that's my job and those of my friends.

Jehlen has not just voted against the racing industry, she is the chief antagonist in the matter.

In 2002, Grey2K launched a bid to abolish dog racing in Massachusetts, the AFL-CIO spent hundreds of thousand of dollars to defeat that measure (question 3). Pat Jehlen supported that measure publicly. At the end of that year, unanimous consent was needed in the legislature to extend the racing bill. Thousands of union jobs were at stake. Two Reps threatened to object. One was Susan Pope (R-Wellesley) the other was, you guessed it, our friend Pat Jehlen. it wasn't until a fierce lobbying effort by the big shots at the AFL-CIO used their muscle that Pat withdrew her objection. The owners had to lean on Pope to make her back down, but the entire industry hung in the balance, and with it our jobs. She may have backed down, but we all knew where her heart was, and it wasn't with us.

In April of 2003, a vote for slots at racetracks took place. This measure would save the jobs at the tracks, and raise much needed revenue for the cities and town in Massachusetts. Pat voted against us again, twice.

So you can understand this issue in a more national light, in most states the opposition is from the far right. In Florida, Jeb Bush and the Christian Coalition opposed this measure. The unions supported it. In Florida the unions won.

http://www.comedyzine.com/tirade401.html

In Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, the Democratic Governor championed the cause of slots at racetracks, with the help of unions, it once again prevailed. This revenue can revitalize an important unionized industry and raise revenue to lessen the property tax burden.

http://www.Post-Gazette.com/pg/05102/486851.stm

Strangely enough, in Massachusetts, our opposition is from the most liberal. Jerad Barrios, Pat Jehlen, Susan Tucker, Mike Festa, Mark Falzone, and David Linsky all hold the same position as Jeb Bush and oppose that of the AFL-CIO.

Go figure.

[woosh]

7. Is that an elected position?

[louis c]

8. Governor's Councilor

is an elected position in a district larger than that of a congressman.

[woosh]

9. Why is he be seeking a lesser office?

[louis c]

10. I don't believe it is a lesser office

just a smaller constituency base.

In Lynn, State Senator Clancy won a mayor's seat. The constituency base is smaller for Mayor of Lynn as opposed to State Senator, but the importance of the job is larger.

By the way, I'm with Callahan because I believe he is the strongest candidate to defeat Jehlen.

Defeating Jehlen for her positions against my Union and its members is my prime objective in this race.