Labor Council Endorses Swanson for Assembly
By Post Staff
The Central Labor Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO, has endorsed Sandre Swanson in the 16th Assembly District in the Democratic Party primary.
This endorsement comes on the heels of pro-business group Oak-PAC’s endorsement of Swanson.
Swanson, a longtime aide to former Congress-man Ron Dellums and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, is running against John Russo, Oakland City Attorney; Clinton Killian, Oakland Planning Commissioner and attorney; and Ronnie Gail Calplane for the 16th Assembly District seat currently held by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, who is termed out in 2006.
“For more than 30 years, Sandre Swanson has provided outstanding leadership and pub- tic service to the people of Oakland. Labor enthusiastically endorses Sandre for the Assembly and his election will be a top priority in the 2006 Democratic Primary.” said Sharon Cornu, Executive Secretary-Treasurer.
Cornu highlighted Swanson’s successful effort with Congresswoman Lee to secure Congressional authorization for a $252 million dredging project for the Port of Oakland.
The ‘50 Foot Dredging Project” will deepen the port’s harbor to accommodate the latest generation of container vessels. This new shipping capacity for Oakland’s seaport will generate 8,800 additional jobs — many union and local hires, she said.
“I am excited about the endorsement on two levels,” said Swanson. “First, because I come from a working-class family- my mother was a nurse and my father was a bus driver- the labor movement has always been very important for me; second, because of the support it gives to my campaign.”
The Alameda County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO represents 130 labor unions, with more than 100,000 members.
The Labor Council also gave Swanson high marks for his advocacy to retain public worker pensions.
“Swanson has served as Chairman of the Alameda County Retirement Board and is currently a Trustee for the County of Alameda’s $4.3 billion pension organization that supports the pension system for 15,000 active and retired county employees. Swanson has been a leading voice in the debate against the Governor’s campaign to eliminate public worker pensions a we know them today,” said Cornu. Swanson has called the Governor’s efforts a serious threat to the retirement security for working families in California.”
According to Cornu, Swanson is credited with showing leadership and finding creative solutions when the Bay Area was hit hard by military base closures and thousands of people lost their jobs. Swanson is leading efforts to speed up the reuse of former military base land that today is being used for building new homes, creating economic opportunities and where thousands of new jobs are being created.