AFSCME Endorsement

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Endorses Congressman Kendrick Meek in U.S. Senate Race

Hallandale Beach, Fla.  [4/13/09] – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL) in his bid for the U.S. Senate at a rally held in Hallandale Beach today.

Meek, who is qualifying for the U.S. Senate race in Florida by petition, is vying to replace retiring U.S. Senator Mel Martinez.

With 1.6 million members in hundreds of different occupations—from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers—AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services, and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

 “To AFSCME, public service is not just a calling; it’s a way of life. The men and women of AFSCME represent the fabric of Florida by mentoring our children, supporting our university students, implementing critical government programs, and treating our family members in hospitals,” said Congressman Kendrick Meek. “Every minute of every day AFSCME members work with Floridians and they know better than anyone the state of our economy and the problems we face. I look forward to working alongside AFSCME as we bring about meaningful changes and improvements to the lives of everyday Floridians.”

“I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about our support for Congressman Meek’s bid for the U.S. Senate,” said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. “Throughout his tenure in Congress, Representative Meek has stood solidly with the members of AFSCME on a variety of important issues, from raising the minimum wage to increasing our nation’s investment in children’s health care. He has been there for working people in Florida and throughout our nation, and we know we can count on his continued advocacy and dedication when he is elected to the Senate.”

In Florida, AFSCME Council 79, led by President Jeanette Wynn, is the second largest union in Florida with 90 locals representing over 100,000 employees of the state, state universities, cities and counties, school boards and private nonprofit hospitals.

AFSCME is the 4th labor union to formally endorse Meek’s candidacy. Since announcing his U.S. Senate run on January 12th, Congressman Meek has received endorsements from SEIU, the International Union of Allied Painters and Trades, and the United Teachers of Dade, Florida’s largest teacher union.

The AFSCME endorsement was announced in Hallandale Beach as Congressman Meek held his petition launch to qualify for the U.S. Senate.

The initial petition drive launch has Meek crisscrossing the state from Pensacola to Key West from April 4-14 with stops in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola, Jackson County, Key West, Miami-Dade, Broward and Volusia Counties.

To successfully qualify for the ballot by petition, the campaign will need to collect and submit to county election supervisors 112,476 valid signatures by late March 2010. Never before has a U.S. Senate candidate successfully qualified for the ballot by petition.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek is serving in his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 17th Congressional District of Florida, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. He is the lone Florida Democrat sitting on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Meek also serves on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and is a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, Meek served eight years in the Florida House and Senate and was a captain in the Florida Highway Patrol.