Another union backing Clark in 6th

Posted at 11:45 AM on October 23, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 announced today that it has endorsed state Sen. Tarry Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, in her 6th district congressional bid.

It's the latest in a growing list of labor endorsements for Clark. The other DFL candidate in the 6th, Dr. Maureen Reed, has complained that she was overlooked by several unions. Reed is no longer pledging to abide by the DFL endorsement.

Here's the IUOE news release:

OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 49 ENDORSES CLARK FOR CONGRESS

Thousands more working men and women voice their support for Clark's campaign

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 today announced its endorsement of Tarryl Clark for Congress. Local 49 cited Clark's strong record of fighting on behalf of the working men and women of our state, from job creation to transportation, and her ability to put together a winning campaign.

"At the State Capitol or on the campaign trail, Tarryl is a proven leader," said Business Manager Glen Johnson. "For too long, Michele Bachmann has turned her back on the working people of her district. She's done nothing to create jobs, to fix our roads and bridges, or to ensure Minnesota's working people can succeed. While Michele has ignored these issues in Congress, these are the issues Tarryl Clark has always championed. We are proud to endorse her, and our thousands of members will work to ensure she is elected."

Comments (1)

It seems Reed, for credibility, needs to go beyond disliking how the unions operated to explaining exactly what her accomplishments and efforts have been that would EARN consideration for a union leadership to endorse her. She complains. She does not explain.

And to say, well there should have been a session where I could make a pitch, and there was not ignores the basic fact - she will be elected by voters if elected at all, and she's yet to make any pitch to them. Who is she? What are her core commitments to improve the lives of people in the district? How does she propose doing this? Has she any agenda at all?

These are not irrelevant or "gotcha" questions. They are basic.

To complain and not explain is not a sound way to run a campaign, in my view, which I admit is imperfect.

She has never addressed sensibly her DFL basis for running in a different party against Mike Hatch - and Pawlenty got narrowly reelected while the Hutchinson-Reed percentage was enough to have swung things the other way.

Why, Maureen Reed, did you do that????

Again, not an irrelevant nor a "gotcha" question, but fundamental.

Posted by eric zaetsch | October 25, 2009 10:45 AM

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