SAINT PAUL — LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota today, announced its first round of early endorsements for the 2023 elections. 11 pro-worker and pro-infrastructure candidates running for City Council in Minneapolis and Saint Paul are among the first to gain LIUNA’s support.
Joel Smith, President and Business Manager of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota said, “We are proud to support leaders who share our values and priorities. The candidates we recommend understand that budgets are moral documents — investing in workers, neighborhoods and public infrastructure is the best way to build inclusive, livable communities for all.”
Joe Fowler, business manager for LIUNA Local 563, said, "We look forward to working with these candidates to create family-sustaining infrastructure jobs and to combat wage theft in our communities. We are counting on the partnership of our endorsed candidates to ensure public money for projects supports the public good, and workers building our infrastructure earn living wages and benefits.”
Frontline workers in both cities have been stressed by stagnant wages and low staffing levels for several years. Representing some of the most diverse bargaining units in the public sector, LIUNA Local 363 members work for both cities' public works, parks, and water departments, along with both public housing agencies.
AJ Lange, business manager for LIUNA Local 363 said, "Many of us live and work in these cities, and people don't realize what we are up against on the job every day. No matter what, we do our jobs since this is our community too. We look forward to being partners with these candidates to improve LIUNA members' workplaces, negotiate for the wages and benefits they deserve, and make our communities safer and healthier.”
For candidates to be considered, they must seek LIUNA's endorsement. LIUNA-endorsed candidates are listed and updated at liunaminnesota.org/vote. The following candidates for the Minneapolis and Saint Paul City Councils have earned LIUNA’s early endorsements for the 2023 elections:
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
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Elliott Payne for Minneapolis - Ward 1
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Michael Rainville for Minneapolis - Ward 3
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LaTrisha Vetaw for Minneapolis - Ward 4
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Jason Chavez for Minneapolis - Ward 9
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Emily Koski for Minneapolis - Ward 11
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Linea Palmisano for Minneapolis - Ward 13
SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL
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Rebecca Noecker for Saint Paul Ward - 2
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Mitra Jalali for Saint Paul - Ward 4
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Hwa Jeong Kim for Saint Paul - Ward 5
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Nelsie Yang for Saint Paul - Ward 6
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Cheniqua Johnson for Saint Paul - Ward 7
