L.A. Union Member Closer to a Congressional Seat (she faces an Aug. 21 run-off )

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/07/13/la-union-member-closer-to-a-congressional-seat/

L.A. Union Member Closer to a Congressional Seat

by Mike Hall, Jul 13, 2007

With the Los Angeles union movement rallying around her, Laura Richardson (D), a Machinists (IAM) member and state assemblywoman, won a special primary election to fill the 37th Congressional District seat left open following the April death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D).

Richardson took 38 percent of the June 26 vote, but because she did not win a majority in the 18-candidate field, she faces an Aug. 21 run-off against the highest finishing Republican candidate in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor mobilized its members to turn out the vote for Richardson, with some 1,140 volunteers who knocked on 17,000 union family doors in Long Beach, Compton, Carson and south Los Angeles. They made 45,000 phone calls to union voters and helped distribute some 166,000 pieces of literature. Says Maria Elena Durazo, federation executive secretary-treasurer:

This is a victory for working families. They shared resources at every level and made sure the best candidate won. In helping turn out the vote to elect Laura Richardson, working men and women have shown that they stand with those candidates who stand with them—those who will fight day in and day out to give them a chance at joining or remaining in the middle. Laura has done just that as an elected official. She supported a living wage for hotel workers, opened the first job training center in Long Beach and supports unionized construction jobs.

FULL story at link.

Her web page; http://www.laurarichardsonforcongress.com/

Her Act Blue donation page: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18059

[More Than A Feeling]

1. Will she sponsor H.R. 333? n/t