Text Box: From the Executive Director…   Local 620 Members are asking me who I think are the best candidates for labor in the local races for Board of Supervisors and in the all important primary race for Governor of the State of California so I thought I would respond in this column.   There are two seats available in the County Board of Supervisors this primary election June 6th.  The Fifth District seat in the Santa Maria valley is up for another four year term.  This seat is currently held by Supervisor Joe Centeno who is running for reelection.  Yvette Andrade is also a candidate for this position on the Board of Supervisors.  Local 620 has taken no position to date in this race although we are interviewing both candidates and may have taken a position by the time you read this.   The Second District Race – A Crowded Field The other seat on the Board of Supervisors up for election for a four year term is the Second District Seat centered in Santa Barbara, which is currently held by Supervisor Susan Rose who is not seeking reelection.   The Second District seat on the Board of Supervisors is a very important seat for Local 620 Members.  The winner will be in a position to make decisions important to county employees, our largest union chapter.  Negotiations with the County are coming up again next year and county employees are in great need of assistance with rising health costs, a poor pension plan with high costs, and uncompetitive salaries.   This race is perhaps the most interesting local political race because there are four different candidates vying for this seat in the primary and

Text Box: if no one single candidate receives fifty percent or more of the votes (a likely scenario) then the top 2 vote getters will square off again in the November general election against each other.   Although the Board of Supervisors seats are officially “non-partisan” offices, both the Democratic and Republican parties have their candidates in the race.   Dan Secord is the only Republican in the race and is considered the conservative ‘pro-business’ candidate.  He is a known quantity having served on the Santa Barbara City Council until recently forced out by voter approved term limits.  He is a medical doctor by profession.  Dr. Secord’s ‘labor’ record on the City Council was not as strong as Local 620 would have liked to see, with him failing to demonstrate leadership on issues important to Local 620 Members as well as other unions.  He either voted against us most of the time or grudgingly voted with us when it was obvious that we had majority support of his colleagues on the council and his further opposition would be ineffective.   That leaves the three Democratic Party candidates to consider.  Janet Wolf is one of the three democratic candidates and she has the endorsement of outgoing Supervisor Susan Rose.  Ms. Wolf appears to be a progressive candidate although Local 620’s experience with her is limited when compared to our interaction and experience with Mr. Williams. Another individual in the race is perennial candidate Joe Guzzardi who is a county employee in a unit represented by Local 620.  Mr. Guzzardi has run unsuccessfully three times for the Santa Barbara City Council. Mr. Guzzardi was a non-member taking the benefits of collective bargaining without contributing any (Continued on page 2)

Text Box: Inside this issue:

Text Box: We are always updating our database.  Please return the member change form to the Santa Barbara Office.

Text Box: June2006

Text Box: Volume 7, ISSUe 2006-2

Text Box: Page 2

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From the Executive Director

1

The County Split

2

Update—by Silvia

Rodriguez

4

Steward

Update

4

Northern Turf Update

5

Immigrant Rights

5

Angelides for Governor

6 & 7