After what has been described as a “spirited debate,” Elizabeth Romero, D-Indio, has snagged the coveted endorsement of UFCW Local 1167 in her bid for the 28th state Senate District seat, President Joe Duffle told Uken Report.

The endorsement, which Romero earned with a majority of the vote, comes less than a week after 28th Senate District delegates to the state Democratic Party voted 47-18 to endorse her opponent, Joy Silver, D-Palm Springs.

United Food Commercial Workers Local 1167 has more than 20,000 active members and more than 10,000 retired workers. It is part of the larger Inland Empire Central Labor Council, which represents more than 289,000 workers across the Inland Empire. It, too, has endorsed Romero.

The Inland Empire Central Labor Council is the largest Labor Council geographically with 27,269 square miles with 133 cities, several unincorporated communities, including School Boards and multiple Water Boards, in addition to nine Congressional Districts, seven Senate Districts and 14 Assembly Districts all in its jurisdiction.

cannabis dispensary unionizes

Joe Duffle

“The Party doesn’t dictate to Labor. I need a voice for working families. Liz understands the struggle. She is a product of the Coachella Valley. I know I will have her ear if she’s elected. That means a lot.”

As a native of the Coachella Valley, Duffle said he understands the value of having someone elected who grew up here and understands the tale of the haves and have-nots.

Romero is committed to public service, the people and the area and does not readily give up or quit.

Jerry Brown tapped V. Manuel Perez to represent the Coachella Valley on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to complete the remainder of the late John Benoit’s term through 2018. Brown awarded the vacancy to Perez over Elizabeth Romero, a Riverside County Board of Education trustee who got her start working for both Benoit and the late Supervisor Roy Wilson as a legislative aid.

Romero Earns Powerful Endorsement of Unions

Elizabeth Romero

Romero ran for re-election to the Riverside County Board of Education in June 2018 and won as a Trustee to represent Area 6 in California. Her current term ends in 2022

With the special election set for March 3, time to organize a robust and effective campaign is of tantamount importance.

“There is no other organization that could put together a political campaign together in such a short amount of time than labor,” Duffle said. “We are better prepared to run a campaign than the Democratic Party. Liz will be the beneficiary of a lot of our resources – a lot of man hours.”

Those resources include money, in-kind contributions, door-to-door knocking, canvassing, computer programs, phone banking, and more in a district that spans 6,000 square miles. They will put boots on the ground. The 28th Senate District cuts a wide swath that stretches from the Temecula wine country through the Coachella Valley to Blythe.

The seat has been vacant since Nov. 1 when Jeff Stone resigned to work in the Trump Administration.

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Joe Duffle: UFCW Local 1167
  • Union solidarity: Shutterstock