Republican candidate for Allegheny County Executive Joe Rockey picked up an endorsement from a group that seldom backs GOP candidates on Thursday.
The Pennsylvania District Council of the Laborers International Union of North America threw its support behind the 58-year-old former PNC executive over Democratic candidate Sara Innamorato. The group represents 24,000 members statewide, while Laborers Union 1058 and Monroeville-based Local 373, which represent a combined 7,000 workers, also jointly endorsed Rockey.
Unions typically back Democratic candidates in Allegheny County, as registered Dems outnumber Republicans by a 2:1 margin.
“Joe Rockey is without question the person for the job,” said Philip Ameris, district council president and
business manager. “Mr. Rockey’s background is one of hard work and success. Coming from a union family, Mr. Rockey understands what it means to have nothing but a desire to succeed.”
Ameris said he was impressed by Rockey’s vision for the future of Allegheny County and how local unions can help accomplish those goals.
“As I have stated in the past, it is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a union issue,” he said. “In this crucial election we must elect a candidate who is qualified, has the knowledge on how to move Allegheny County forward and who understands that … extreme political views will only cause division and stifle development and progress.”
“My dad was a union member and my family grew up knowing that working men and women prosper when they have a union,” Rockey said. “If elected leaders are really going to support unions, they need to support the kinds of projects that provide good-paying jobs.
“We can bring jobs here to Pittsburgh and it’s not just something we should do for ourselves. Our region works best when we work together. As County Executive I’ll work with labor, business and the nonprofit sector to unite our region to confront our biggest challenges.”
3 Responses
The rank-and-file union members should elect new leadership.
Big news. Such a Dem area. Still it helps.
The unions are choosing the canidate who is the stable choice for their interest. Sara Innamorato has a hostile relationship with her own party and has no regard for the jobs that Will be lost by her hard line position on Fracking. The pro labor republican is a rarity but a welcome one in this election