Labor unions moving toward 2010 endorsements

Minnesota's most influential labor organizations are moving quickly to select their preferred candidates for governor in 2010.

Union officials say the endorsing process is happening weeks, and in some cases months, earlier than traditional timelines. And they all offer a similar reason: they're eager to help put a labor-friendly Democrat back in the governor's office for the first time in 20 years.

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton greeted teachers recently as they filed through the Education Minnesota Professional Conference in St. Paul. Several DFL candidates for governor showed up at the annual teacher's union event. Dayton was the only one who paid for his own booth, and he explained why.

"[It's] s couple thousand Minnesota teachers, a very important political constituent, and also because education is the first and foremost responsibility of state government," Dayton said. "Of course it's slipped badly in the past few years in terms of state funding, so there's a lot to talk about."

Dayton said he doesn't see eye to eye with the teachers union on every issue, but he'd still like to get their endorsement. Education Minnesota officials recently interviewed Dayton and the other DFL candidates, and they expect to announce their endorsement soon.

No Republicans participated.

The union's president, Tom Dooher, said this will be the earliest teachers have ever endorsed a candidate for governor. He said 2010 is a critical election for the future of education and he's not surprised that other labor groups are also moving quickly to endorse.

"They understand the importance of what the governor can do."

"They understand the importance of what the governor can do, and they know what's happened the last seven years with a governor that's been detached from the work of Minnesota," Dooher said. "So, we all know that we could make an influence and a difference in who the next governor is going to be, and I think that's why you see more and more groups looking at this earlier."

The teachers' endorsement is still pending, but some other labor groups have already weighed in. Teamsters Local 120 announced in September that it was backing Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak for governor, even though Rybak hasn't officially entered the race. The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters endorsed state Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, back in May.

The Minnesota Nurses Association announced last week that it's endorsing DFL state Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis. Thissen said he think nurses want to be more organized heading into the DFL precinct caucuses, which will eventually lead to a party endorsement.

"I think they really want to elect someone that's going to be friendly to their views and that will engage them in the governing of the state for the next four years," Thissen said. "They want to win."

Winning the governor's race is also the top priority for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 5. Executive Director Eliot Seide said AFSCME has a history of endorsing early, and it takes its selection very seriously. With 43,000 members statewide, Seide said his organization plays big and puts feet on the street.

"In the last round, out of 1,200 elected delegates to the DFL convention, 200 were AFSCME members," Seide said. "That makes us a major player at the DFL convention. We also spent, with direct contributions and activities, over $1 million in the '06 cycle. We believe, based on our own internal polling, that 70 percent of our people support our recommendation for our endorsed candidate."

Seide said AFSCME Council 5 officials will interview candidates this Saturday, but he's not sure when they'll make the endorsement. All 10 DFLers, as well as Republican Pat Anderson, are scheduled to participate.

Another big union is taking a distinctly slower approach to the governor's race. Officials with the Service Employees International Union, representing 30,000 people in Minnesota, say they don't plan to endorse a candidate until early next year.

Javier Morillo, the vice president of the SEIU state council, said with a crowded and talented field of candidates, there's no reason to fall in love too soon.

"For example, everyone expected Mayor Chris Coleman of St. Paul to be in the race, and a lot of people were disappointed when he jumped out," Morillo said. "Jumping in early, one can get on board with someone who before caucuses or before the convention decide that they're not in it to the end. So to me it sort of re-confirmed for me the sanity of our decision to hold off for a while."

Morillo said SEIU leaders will decide the timetable for their endorsement in January.

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