And the plot thickens.... (Blouin)

[IA_Seth]

Looks like Blouin may face a dilemma with Labor in Polk County....

Does anyone have any insight into this? It's really the first I've heard of it, but I have to admit I am not real up to speed on Des Moines/Polk County politics

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http://www.dmcityview.com/skinny.shtml

(snip)

Speaking of Blouin, what are the implications for the Democratic Party of the dust up going on between Polk County Supervisor John Mauro and the backers of a PLA for the new county jail? Plenty, labor insiders have told Cityview. Despite their public pronouncements, people who are close to gubernatorial candidate Blouin are trying to get Mauro, who is close to Blouin's campaign, to acquiesce. But Mauro, who has never feared labor or anyone else, isn't going to change his mind because his lawyers insist that - based on a letter from the Republican feds - a PLA would mean the new jail wouldn't be able to house federal prisoners, and it's that money from the feds that makes the whole $68 million jail deal work out financially for the taxpayers. Blouin, so far, has a lot of county support. "But if the unions hold a rally to protest the actions of the majority of the board of supervisors, you know Chet Culver, Patty Judge and Ed Fallon will all be on the stage," a Polk insider told us. "And this won't just involve the Building Trades. If it goes this far, you're going to see AFSCME and the other unions joining the Trades. So you tell me where Democratic candidates are going to be." The infighting could also impact Democratic Party fund-raising efforts, we're told. The Central Iowa Building Trades have already declined to purchase tickets for the Polk County Fall Fundraiser and are unlikely to buy any tables at the state party's annual Jefferson Jackson dinner.

(snip)