For Immediate Release
Friday, January 05, 1996
AFSCME Names New Director of Political Action
Washington, DC —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, has named Lawrence R. Scanlon, Jr. as director of the union's Political Action Department.
Scanlon began his career more than 20 years ago with New York's Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), AFSCME's largest local affiliate. Before being named as CSEA executive director, Scanlon served as that organization's acting director of education, acting regional director, coordinator of school district affairs, director of organizing, and director of legislative and political action.
"Larry Scanlon brings a wealth of experience and innovation to our union," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. "We're confident that he will play a key role in shaping the political landscape in the months and years ahead."
While at CSEA, Scanlon revitalized that organization's legislative and political action operations by designing and implementing a series of programs, including the systematic use of political polling; employing computer technology for legislative and political operations; and determining candidate endorsements, campaign services, and contribution schedules. In just two years, Scanlon was able to double the amount of donations made by CSEA members to the organization's political action fund.
"I'm honored to be selected for this post," Scanlon said. "AFSCME has established itself as a leader in directing the political currents that guide this nation, and I'm looking forward to bringing my experience and ideas to that process."
AFSCME has a history of taking the lead in mobilizing labor's ranks in the political arena. For example, AFSCME was the first union to endorse then-candidate Bill Clinton's bid for the presidency in 1992. AFSCME also hosted the largest contingent of labor delegates at the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
"In the upcoming presidential election," McEntee said, "there is a great deal at stake for the working men and women of this country. The current stable of Republicans in Congress have tried to systematically destroy each and every gain we've made in the last four years with President Clinton."
"Under Larry Scanlon's direction, we intend to help mobilize the millions of working men and women in this country who recognize President Clinton's leadership and vision for America," McEntee added. "We're determined to making every man and woman in this country realize that in the coming year they must fight the Republican agenda if they want to keep their jobs, keep their health care, and educate their children."
AFSCME, with more than 1.3 million members, is the nation's largest public employee and health care workers union.
