Offers $60M and Troop
DC 37's National Union Taps Clinton

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

The executive board of the 1.4-million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees voted 23 to 10 last week to endorse Hillary Clinton for President.

AFSCME photo BACKING THE FRONTRUNNER: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees last week threw its support behind Sen. Hillary Clinton for President last week, noting her experience and labeling her a 'winner.' The 23 to 10 vote by the union's executive board reflected backing in some states for Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards. 'We looked for the candidate who will fight for working families and who has the greatest ability to win,' said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee (right).

District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and DC 1707 Executive Director Raglan George Jr. are members of the board and joined the majority in favor of Senator Clinton. The announcement emphasized her electability and experience and included a promise of $60 million in donations and 40,000 volunteers for the campaign.

'She'll Fight for Workers'

"We looked for the candidate who will fight for working families and who has the greatest ability to win," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee, who also serves as chair of the AFL-CIO's political committee.

The union's early endorsement of Howard Dean in the last presidential election caused discontent in the ranks and among some officials after Mr. Dean's rapid fall in the polls. AFSCME endorsed Al Gore more than a year before the 2000 election, but was also an early supporter of Bill Clinton in 1992.

Some of the 10 board members who did not vote for Ms. Clinton argued that the union should refrain from any endorsement until after the primaries this time. Others voted for Sen. Barack Obama or former Sen. John Edwards.

AFSCME officials said that the vote reflected "deep support" among its members for Senator Clinton. She was the favorite nationally by a significant margin, and only in a few states were other candidates preferred.

Mr. George acknowledged that DC 1707 members were split, almost evenly, between Ms. Clinton, Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards.

'A Strong Field'

"It was complicated," he said, "because the field of Democratic candidates was a good one. All of the major candidates are strong."

He said that Mr. Obama in particular had captured the imaginations of a segment of his local's members, representing hope and a "breath of fresh air."

"We're a minority union and a lot of sentiment leans towards Obama," he said. "He represents the aspirations for a lot of minorities, whether they are Hispanic, Asian or African-American."

Mr. George said he cast his vote for Ms. Clinton after listening to the feedback from the national search committee and sensing the widespread support for her. He also noted her extensive political experience.

Ms. Roberts, who was a member of AFSCME's presidential search committee, praised Ms. Clinton for her positions on Social Security, the minimum wage and funding for the city after 9/11. "We need a candidate who can rectify the consequences to this country and to working families of the terrible mistakes and incompetence of the Bush Administration," Ms. Roberts said in a statement.

DC 37 Votes Nov. 27

She called Ms. Clinton a "winner" and added that she hope that DC 37, which has always backed the AFSCME candidate, would vote to endorse Ms. Clinton at its next delegate assembly on Nov. 27.

AFSCME officials noted that they represent 30,000 members in Iowa, who could play a key role in the caucuses that will take place there in January. Mr. McEntee said Ms. Clinton was the candidate who would "motivate our members to make calls, knock on doors and talk to their co-workers like never before."