By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
The Kentucky State AFL-CIO has endorsed quartet of union members and a labor attorney in the May 22 Democratic primary.
The executive board, meeting as the COPE Committee Wednesday in Frankfort, unanimously voted to back Richard Becker, Alton Cunningham, James DeWeese, Eldon Renaud and Dave Suetholz.
Becker, from Louisville, is an organizer with SEIU/NCFO 32BJ. He is one of three Democrats seeking the party nod for the 35th House District seat being vacated by the retiring Jim Wayne, a veteran Democratic lawmaker.
Cunningham, who lives in Benton, retired in 2016 as business representative for Painters and Allied Trades District 91. He wants to succeed 6th District Rep. Will Coursey, a Democrat, who is running for Marshall County judge-executive. Cunningham has a pair of primary opponents.
DeWeese, a Bardstown resident and UPS ground agent with Louisville-based Teamsters Local 89, is again running to be the Democratic candidate in House District 50. He faces one primary challenger.
Renaud, who is retired, was president and/or chairman of UAW 2164 in Bowling Green for for 25 years and 2nd Congressional District UAW Political Chairman for about 12 years. He wants to follow to Frankfort former Democratic House Speaker Jody Richards, who represented the 20th District for many years. Renaud has four rivals in the primary.
Suetholz, who practices law in Louisville and lives in Eminence, is running for his party's nomination in the 20th senatorial district. He has no primary opponent.