SEIU Local 1021, the union that represents City of Oakland workers, has endorsed attorney Dan Siegel as its number one choice for mayor of Oakland.

The union endorsed Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan as its second choice and Mayor Jean Quan as third choice – in keeping with ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank their top candidates for each city office. According to Local 1021 Executive Director Pete Castelli, union members voted to endorse Siegel because “he cares about working people and because of his practice as a lawyer.”

Heis very progressive in his efforts on behalf of the com-munity,” Castelli said. The union has a member-run political committee that handles the endorsement process, he said. They sent out questionnaires, interviewed the candidates and afterward held a caucus. The decision was difficult this year, he said, because there are several good candidates.

“There is a large block of members who think Rebecca is great and a large block of members who really support Mayor Quan, who in the last year has really improved things a lot.

”The union’s endorsement will mean that members are encouraged to work on the campaigns of all three candidates, said Castelli.

Local 1021 represent more than 54,000 employees in governments, non-profit agencies, health care programs and schools in Northern California. The union has spearheaded the coalition that put a measure to increase the minimum wage on the city ballot in November.

“I am grateful for the confidence that the members of Local 1021 have expressed in our campaign and its potential for real change in Oakland,” said Siegel. “I will do everything in my power to justify Local 1021’s support as we create an Oakland that appreciates and respects the contributions of city employees and of all people in our community.

SEIU Local 1021, the union that represents City of Oakland workers, has endorsed attorney Dan Siegel as its number one choice for mayor of Oakland.

The union endorsed Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan as its second choice and Mayor Jean Quan as third choice – in keeping with ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank their top candidates for each city office. According to Local 1021 Executive Director Pete Castelli, union members voted to endorse Siegel because “he cares about working people and because of his practice as a lawyer.”

He is very progressive in his efforts on behalf of the com-munity,” Castelli said. The union has a member-run political committee that handles the endorsement process, he said. They sent out questionnaires, interviewed the candidates and afterward held a caucus. The decision was difficult this year, he said, because there are several good candidates.

“There is a large block of members who think Rebecca is great and a large block of members who really support Mayor Quan, who in the last year has really improved things a lot.

”The union’s endorsement will mean that members are encouraged to work on the campaigns of all three candidates, said Castelli.

Local 1021 represent more than 54,000 employees in governments, non-profit agencies, health care programs and schools in Northern California. The union has spearheaded the coalition that put a measure to increase the minimum wage on the city ballot in November.

“I am grateful for the confidence that the members of Local 1021 have expressed in our campaign and its potential for real change in Oakland,” said Siegel. “I will do everything in my power to justify Local 1021’s support as we create an Oakland that appreciates and respects the contributions of city employees and of all people in our community.

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