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Growing Our Own

At election time, AFSCME members not only get out the vote. They get elected, too.

By Gonzalo Baeza

Nothing provides greater protection for public services like electing AFSCME members — the people who understand the issue best. Here are just a few members of our union who ran for office last year. If you know of others, please forward them to Public Employee magazine, 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687. Or send via e-mail to pubaffairs@afscme.org.

Standing Strong in Colorado.

State Rep. Debbie Benefield got re-elected for another two-year term. A member of AFSCME Local 821 (Council 76), her victory was instrumental in thwarting the Republican attempt to regain control of the state Legislature.

Happy in Hawaii.

Faye Hanohano-Kaawaloa, an administrative lieutenant at the Kulani Correctional Facility and former secretary-treasurer of United Public Workers (UPW)/AFSCME Local 646, won an open seat and will succeed state Rep. Helene Hale. Hanohano-Kaawaloa will represent Puna, one of the nine districts on the Island of Hawaii.

Victories in Iowa.

Kevin McCarthy, a prosecutor in the Polk County Attorney’s office and a member of Local 1868 (Council 61) won his re-election bid as state representative. Fellow House Democrats voted McCarthy Iowa House majority leader in late November.

Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, of Monticello, was unopposed. A corrections officer at Anamosa State Penitentiary and a member of Local 2994, he has represented Jones County and a portion of Dubuque County since 2004. However, Zirkelbach has had the opportunity to serve only one year (2005) in the Legislature. The 28-year-old specialist in the Army National Guard (Reserves) is currently deployed in Iraq, but is scheduled to return this spring.

Members who also won in Iowa include: Tom Hockensmith (former member of Local 3450) re-elected as Polk County supervisor; Patrick “P.J.” Jennings (Local 3462) Woodbury County attorney; state Rep. Todd Taylor (Local 3012) re-elected to represent a portion of Cedar Rapids; and state Rep. Wes Whitehead (Local 212) re-elected to represent Sioux City.

Making a difference in Maryland.

Fighting for working familiesKris Valderrama-Lobo, of the International Union’s Public Affairs Department, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates from Prince George’s County. Valderrama-Lobo’s father, former State Delegate David Valderrama, was the first Filipino American to become a member of a state Legislature on the United States mainland.

Members who also won in Maryland include: Gary English, Municipal Employees Local 44 (Council 67), chief shop steward and Kory Blake, Council 67 staff representative. Both were elected to the state Democratic Central Committee.

Minnesota Gains.

Bradley Powers, a technician with the state Department of Transportation and a member of Local 586 (Council 5) was elected to the Windom City Council as a “member-at-large.” He defeated the incumbent with 61 percent of the vote.

Surprise in Wisconsin.

Big changeDemocrat Dawn Marie Sass, a custody placement specialist at a Milwaukee juvenile detention center, defeated 12-year Republican incumbent Jack Voight to become state treasurer. Sass, a member (and former treasurer) of Local 645 (Council 48), won by 8,648 votes — a true accomplishment.

 

 

 

 

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