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March 2022 Labor Council Endorses Booker, Mueller, Stone for SM County Board of Supervisors The San Mateo Labor Council endorsed candidates for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at its delegate meeting February 14. Recommendations were also made for State Assembly and Congress, with endorsements in those contests to be made by the California Labor Federation at its pre-primary convention April 6. The Primary Election will be held June 7. Labor’s endorsements are based on candidates’ track records in support of key labor union issues, and their responses in candidate questionnaires and in interviews conducted January 31 and February 7. County Supervisor, District 3Labor Council delegates voted for a dual endorsement of IBEW Local 617 Business Representative and SMCLC Executive Board member Steven Booker and Menlo Park City Council member Ray Mueller for County Supervisor, District 3. Candidates Virginia Chang-Kiraly and Laura Parmer-Lohan were given an “open” recommendation, enabling individual unions to endorse them. The four candidates all have strong pro-union positions on important labor issues and solid track records in support of labor.
Steven Booker said he is running for County Supervisor “because a large segment of our community feels unrepresented and forgotten, especially in the underserved areas of the county. Covid-19 and the global pandemic made that more evident. From the lack of health care, housing and Internet access, our most vulnerable citizens; our youth, our elderly, and our front-line essential workers suffered the most. My legislative agenda will be to have a more equitable county, where those with the most dire needs are met with and not forgotten.” Booker said his experience as a rank and file union member, union business representative, and Labor Council leader gives him a well-rounded perspective on issues in a diverse county. “My many years of service to labor in our cities, county and the state have given me the knowledge to stand up for working families in our county,” Booker said. Booker’s priorities include building more housing at all affordability levels, safe neighborhoods and improved police/community relations, and Internet equity and access for all. He is the only candidate to propose that the San Mateo County establish an Office of Labor and Standards Enforcement, which would enforce minimum wage laws, hold contractors accountable, and protect workers from wage theft. Booker said a County OLSE would “advance labor standards through thoughtful community and business engagement, strategic enforcement, innovation and study, and policy development with a commitment to social justice.” On the subject of pandemic-related programs and initiatives to help workers in the county, Booker said, “I look to labor to lead the discussion on these topics and look forward to promoting and implementing proper policies. I will oppose all attempts to shift the cost of PPE and Covid rapid test to workers.” Booker noted that in one of the wealthiest areas in the state, workers still have to fight to get proper PPE. “None of our essential workers should feel disposable,” he said. “I will continue to work with our board to enforce our essential worker policies. OSHA also has a key role in worker safety, and essential workers should feel safe and not worry about job security while working.” For more information, check www.bookerforsupervisor.org
Ray Mueller said his priorities include creating a City/County supported Coastal Infrastructure Strategic Plan, increasing funding for health care and hospitals and wildfire mitigation, and ensuring an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for all residents. Mueller said he wants to make sure people have access to quality child-care and medical and mental health services, and that he would work with cities to build more housing at all levels of affordability. To address workforce and economic development concerns in the wake of Covid-19 Mueller said, “The County needs to partner with labor, the community college district and non-profits to retrain workers who have been laid off or seen their jobs entirely disappear as a result of workplace trends from the pandemic. There is no time to waste, as I believe covid-19 is endemic to the population now. The County should invest in this type of economic development to put people back to work. With new state mandated housing creation regulations, we should see a tremendous amount of economic activity around construction on the peninsula. We can get people retrained and back to work safely, but we need to start training people now.” Should you wish to learn more about Laura Parmer-Lohan’s candidacy, visit www.lauraforsupervisor.com. For Virginia Chang-Kiraly, visit virginiachangkiraly.com. County Supervisor, District 2
Belmont Council Member Charles Stone is endorsed in District 2, where Carole Groom is termed-out. Stone has been a strong supporter of unions and labor’s priorities as a council member and mayor in Belmont—leading the effort to raise the minimum wage and advocating for public sector employees. Stone said he is running for supervisor, “because I love this county and I want to see it become a leader in affordable housing, vibrant transit, and equity.” He noted that the County programs provide a social safety net for residents, and funds the County receives through Medicaid should be spent to help expand health care coverage for those in need. He said the County has not done enough to support housing affordability, and could build affordable housing on County-owned land or by converting facilities like the juvenile hall into housing. Stone said he would ensure that workers building affordable housing are paid prevailing wages. Stone has been a member of the SamTrans board for seven years, during which SamTrans increased equity initiatives—including adopting a 50 percent reduction in fares for low- income residents, launching a program to give students who financially qualify for the reduced or free school lunch program free rides, and expanding the GoPass program that provides free passes for workers at large employers. As a councilmember, Stone helped lead the effort to form the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department that includes Belmont, San Mateo and Foster City. Several public sector union members speaking in support of Stone said he has been accessible and a solid supporter of labor. “As far back as I can remember as a child, my parents instilled the importance of unions and the labor movement in me,” Stone said. “My father was a lifetime member of Musicians Local 6. My mother, a teacher, was a member of the California Teachers Association. I was taught—and I continue to believe—that strong unions and a strong labor movement create fair working conditions and help equalize wealth and income distribution. It is my hope that I can continue to work hand in hand with the labor movement as I have for the last near decade in public office.” The Labor Council did not endorse in the Sheriff’s race, where incumbent Carlos Bolanos is being challenged by Christina Corpus, a San Mateo County Sheriff’s Captain. Federal and State Races
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