Memphis Labor Union Announces Candidate Endorsements

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - With an August election looming, candidates are eagerly gathering up campaign endorsements wherever they can find them. Monday, more than a dozen candidates flocked to a Midtown union hall for an important announcement from one of the area's largest labor unions.

Since the 1930's, American labor unions have been among the most politically influential organizations in the country. But, while their numbers may have dwindled over the years, those running for elected office still seek out their support and are more than grateful to accept it.

It was reminiscent of being back in school when teachers used to hand out coveted "gold stars" to eager students grateful to come to the front of the class for their recognition. The political form of that exercise was on display Monday when the Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council formally announced their slate of candidate endorsements for the upcoming primary and county elections on August 5th. Shelby County Interim Mayor and democratic candidate for the office, Joe Ford, was among those gushing with appreciation.

"Whenever you have labor behind you and especially in this case, with this particular AFL-CIO Labor Council. I mean this is big!" exclaimed Ford.

"As everyone here knows, I've always supported labor and I will continue to support labor. Because they're the ones, they always support me, too," said Jimmy Moore, Republican candidate for Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk.

Since the Council represents 40,000 working class potential voters in Memphis and Shelby County, it was understandable that Ford, Moore and nearly a dozen other candidates showed up in person to issue hardy thank-you's.

"What we do with this is we send out a letter to them and communicate with them telling them that these are the candidates we endorse and why," explained Howard Richardson with the Memphis Labor Council.

For Shelby County Sheriff Democratic candidate Randy Wade, who earlier received an endorsement from the Memphis Police Association among others, this latest union vow of support helps to take some of the sting out of what Wade alleges are the snubs to African American male candidates, none of whom have captured campaign endorsements from the Commercial Appeal.

"I'm not saying that to be slanted or throw aspirations against anyone," said Wade. "But, it's something that they need to look in terms of the qualifications and the sensitivity as it relates to endorsements."

Of course, no union endorsement is a guarantee of victory. Remember Carol Chumney in the 2007 city mayoral race got endorsements from The Labor Council and the Police Association and still lost. But, incumbent Shelby County Commissioner, Steve Mulroy, still believes that for candidates in less high profile races a labor union "gold star" could provide a needed boost at the ballot box.

"Maybe some of the top-ballot races where they get a lot of attention, endorsements aren't quite as important. But, the more you go down the ticket, where there's less information, voters use proxy," said Mulroy. "Voters look for endorsements from organizations they trust for those down the ballot races. So, I think for a lot of people in this room, this is a really big day."

Among the other endorsements given by the Labor Council were ones for 9th District Congressman incumbent Steve Cohen, Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter, Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District Greg Rabidoux and Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District Ron Herron.