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Big labor doesn’t endorse in race for governor; backs Saidel

Pennsylvania’s organized labor community can’t come to a consensus in the four-way Democratic primary for governor.

The state AFL-CIO, the state’s largest umbrella union organization, overwhelmingly endorsed former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant during a meeting of its executive committee over the weekend in Pittsburgh. But no top-ticket candidate was able to garner the two-thirds vote needed for a formal endorsement.

An AFL-CIO official couldn’t be reached for comment. But a labor insider said the votes were, for the most part, “well distributed” between Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Auditor General Jack Wagner, with Onorato faring well with the building trades and Wagner finding support from public employee unions. Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel also found patches of support.

“They just couldn’t muster it,” the labor insider said of the vote. “No one could get to two thirds.”

The upshot is that no candidate in the race will benefit from the full organizational strength that the AFL-CIO brings to statewide races. While one insider framed it as a setback for Onorato because he has been unable to “close the deal,” it can just as easily be seen as a defeat for Wagner. With significantly less campaign cash than Onorato, Wagner has a greater need for the labor-backed ground game.

“Honestly, the guy in the race with the best labor record is Hoeffel,” the labor insider said. “It’s just a viability question with him, and they weren’t ready to make that leap. But no one doesn’t like Joe.”

It’s been clear for weeks that the labor community is split in the race to succeed Gov. Ed Rendell.

In addition to backing Saidel, who is increasingly seen as the presumptive Democratic nominee, the AFL-CIO also endorsed numerous state House and state Senate candidates.

“These candidates have displayed their leadership and their support on issues that matter most to the working people of Pennsylvania—issues that improve living standards and promote a better quality of life for all,” state AFL-CIO president Bill George said in a statement.

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April 13, 2010 at 10:14 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

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  1. PA AFL-CIO backs Saidel, but split among Dem Gov candidates… | GrassrootsPA

    Apr 13th, 2010

    [...] PA AFL-CIO backs Saidel, but split among Dem Gov candidates… [...]

  2. John

    Apr 13th, 2010

    “Honestly, the guy in the race with the best labor record is Hoeffel,” the labor insider said. “It’s just a viability question with him, and they weren’t ready to make that leap. But no one doesn’t like Joe.”

    Imagine that. Labor with no backbone? Never ceases to amaze me how important labor’s mission is and how seemingly incapable they are to push for what they believe in, and what is right. They’ll just saddle up with the Democratic candidate, no matter what. They’ll let the corporate money decide. Usual cop out.

  3. TB

    Apr 13th, 2010

    Better to back any Democrat that will lend their ear from time to time than any anti-Labor Republican that could care less about working class Americans.

  4. Baffled by BS

    Apr 13th, 2010

    This is really funny. Only one candidate has been a union member continuously for over 30 years, and he was not even invited to the endorsement meeting. Representative Scott Conklin has been an active member of the Carpenter’s union local 1333, since 1979. I also find it odd that Conklin has been fighting to keep PLA’s while the unions big wigs turn their back on a fellow union brother. I myself have been a member of the IBT (Teamsters) Local 776 , and UTU (United Transportation Union) Local 215. I am saddened that my Drive and COPE funds are being used to defeat another union member. I guess the only thing for me to do is stop my contribution.

  5. Down to Earth

    Apr 14th, 2010

    ALSO, SPEAKING OF CLOSING THE DEAL THE REAL BACK BREAKER WAS WHEN US AIR LANDED IN THE GOV’S BACK YARD, WITH DIRTY DAN AS THE SAVIOR ? DO YOU REALLY WANT ANOTHER BIG DADDY IN HARRISBURG ?

  6. Tony Graziano

    Apr 18th, 2010

    Hey Baffled – you are an idiot. I am a working member of Local 8 and we support only the best candidates and that’s Jon Saidel. He is lifelong supporter of all union brothers and sisters. Your nit wit friend Scott Conklin was out fishing Saturday, while sending his wife to Nazareth PA to lie for him. This Bobble Head Conklin is a first class douche bag. He is running for 2 offices and wants reform???? The people in his area better vote this lying hypocrite out of office. He should be charged with raping the system and stealing taxpayers’ money. He is no union brother of ours!

  7. Red Pin Pete

    Apr 19th, 2010

    Tony,

    Why are you calling Baffled names? I don’t think he said word one about your candidate. Yet you feel the need to attack him and his candidate? Are you really a working member of IBT local 8? If so, then it would make one heck of a commute for you.

    Besides, I am not sure I follow your logic. I guess you can’t be for reform if you run for two offices at the same time? Why so? Nothing prohibits that, you just can serve in 2 offices.

    Really, we are all Democrats, no need to attack each other and silly name calling. If anything it makes your candidate look less credible. Also you really should avoid making comments about stealing taxpayer’s money given your candidate’s less than stellar record of fulfilling the public’s trust.

    I have not heard anyone in the Conklin or Smith Ribner camps engaging in name calling, I suggest you do the same for the good of the party. This is coming from someone who voted for your guy at the PA Dem endorsement. If you want my vote on election day, stop the childish crap.

  8. Baffled by BS

    Apr 19th, 2010

    Thanks, but no thanks Pete. I do not need you to defend me or Scott Conklin. If this is the kind of game they want to play, then lets play it.

    This is classic Marty Marks trying to deflect attention from Saidel by attacking others. Look back when there was talk about Doherty dropping down. Same arrogance and belittling attitude. I am surprised he did not put in the Flobee Haircut remark.

    The fact is Conklin is the only candidate who has been a union members for 30 years. Why wasn’t he invited to the AFL-CIO Endorsement? That was my only point. I did not attack Saidel or anyone else. If you like, I would be more than happy to.

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