In Unanimous Vote, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO Endorses Marc Elrich for Montgomery Count
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In Unanimous Vote, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO Endorses Marc Elrich for Montgomery County Executive
SILVER SPRING, Md._ On January 24, the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO announced its endorsement of Marc Elrich for Montgomery County Executive. The Metropolitan Washington Council, which is comprised of 180 area unions and represents 25,000 members in Montgomery County, voted unanimously to support Mr. Elrich because of his long history of fighting for better education, jobs, and opportunities for Montgomery County residents.
“Our early endorsement makes clear that on the question of vision and direction for Montgomery County, not only does the labor movement agree with Marc and his vision, but we will mobilize our members and make the case to voters that he is the best candidate to move Montgomery County forward,” said Jackie Jeter, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO and President of ATU 689, which represents workers at WMATA.
“Marc is a strong, smart, and independent voice for safety and justice, and we believe he will represent the interests of all people who call Montgomery County home with integrity and compassion,” adds Gino Renne, President of the influential Montgomery County Government Employees Union and an officer at the Metropolitan Washington Council, who also shared that Elrich has consistently defended working people who were facing mistreatment in Montgomery County over the years.
Elrich has long shown a deep commitment to helping Montgomery County’s residents put a roof over their heads and food on their tables while being treated with dignity at work. He used his voice to support food and commercial workers trying to negotiate with grocery stores in the 1990s and advocated on behalf of underpaid trash truck drivers a few years ago. He was also a steadfast supporter of part-time faculty at Montgomery College and recently stood with nurses trying to organize a union at Holy Cross Hospital.
“Unions play a central role in reducing inequality, which is a top priority for me, and I am honored that the Metro Council has recognized my dedication to strengthening worker rights,” Elrich said. “I look forward to partnering with Metro Council affiliates as your next County Executive to further advance economic justice and racial equity, improve services, and ensure that we can meet the challenges we face as a county.”
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Marc Elrich has been an at-large Montgomery County Councilmember since 2006. He chairs the Public Safety Committee, serves on the Education Committee, and is the County Council’s representative to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board. Prior to his election to the County Council, he served on the Takoma Park City Council for 19 years and taught at Rolling Terrace Elementary School for 17 years. For more information, see www.marcelrich.org
The Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO coordinates campaigns and activities that improve the lives of workers, provides emergency services and legal counseling to working people, and supports activities on behalf of political candidates who support workers’ issues. With 180 affiliated unions and more than 150,000 union members across the region, the Council’s affiliates represent members in every line of work, from service industries, retail sales and communications to transportation, manufacturing, construction trades and, of course, the public sector at all levels.
Media Contacts:
Ben Spielberg, Campaign Manager, Marc Elrich for County Executive Ben@marcelrich.org 609-828-3783
David Dzidzienyo, Political Director, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO DDzidzienyo@dclabor.org 202-320-9027
By Authority: Marc Elrich for County Executive, Dale Tibbitts, Treasurer, 9511 St. Andrews Way, Silver Spring, MD 20901
