By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
In 1906, American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers urged union members to “reward the friends and punish the enemies of labor.”
He meant at the polls.
We have several friends running for the General Assembly this year. We also have family--a quartet of union members and a pair of labor attorneys.
It’s been a while since so many trade unionists have been on a primary ballot. (The two lawyers are the only Democrats running in their districts and will automatically advance to the Nov. 6 election.)
All six candidates need your support. But Richard Becker, Al Cunningham, James DeWeese and Eldon Renaud need it in tomorrow's primary.
Becker, from Louisville, is an organizer with SEIU/NCFO. 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 pro-labor 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 and another friend of unions, 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 vying for the Democratic nomination in House District 50. He faces one primary challenger. Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, is the incumbent.
Renaud, who is retired, was president and/or chairman of UAW 2164 in Bowling Green. Also a former Bowling Green mayor, he wants to follow to Frankfort ex-House Speaker Jody Richards, who represented the 20th District for many years. Renaud has four rivals in the primary.
Dave Suetholz, who practices law in Louisville and lives in Eminence, is running for his party's nomination in the 20th Senate District, whose seat is held by Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville. He has no primary opponent.
Charles "Buddy" Wheatley of Covington, a former union firefighter, has no Democratic primary opposition and will take on 65th House District Rep. Jordan Huizenga, R-Covington, in November. Huizinga has no primary foe.
Please support your family member in your neck of the woods tomorrow--Becker, Cunningham, Deweese and Reynaud. With your help, they’ll be on the ballot in November with Suetholz and Wheatley.