West Central Illinois Labor Council hears candidates, elects new officers

 Three political candidates addressed delegates of the West Central Illinois Labor Council at its monthly meeting Oct. 23 at the UAW Local 974 hall. They stressed non-partisanship or bipartisanship and their appreciation of, or roots in, unions.

Democrat Sean Donahue, running to replace Kevin Lyons as a 10^th Circuit judge, said besides having worked for the Peoria State’s Attorney’s Office, for the late Jerry Brady in private practice and as a judge since 2017, he worked as a mason tender for two years for Laborers Local 165.

The 35-year-old Kickapoo native said judges aren’t partisan, but he hopes organized labor sees the value in honesty and ethics on the bench.

Another Democratic judge candidate in the March primary is John Spears, seeking the seat of retired Judge Michael Risinger, and the Peoria native, also 35, worked in the State’s Attorney’s Office as well, for both current State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos and her predecessor, Brady. With experience as a public defender in Tazewell County, Spears said he grew up in a union family, and praised the importance of labor in bargaining contracts providing decent wages, job security, and good work schedules.

“I haven’t forgotten what union principles and values meant to my working-class family.”

Also speaking and answering questions was Republican Gary Manier, mayor of Washington since 2001 and a vice president of the Illinois Municipal League.

Recalling the importance of unions after the 2013 tornado that severely damaged Washington, Manier said unions have also been in his family background, and he sees himself as a “consensus builder.”

“Straight party-line voting is not helping,” he said.

Referring to October’s squabbles in the U.S. House of Representatives, Manier said Congress should “worry about America, not themselves.”

Running for the State Senate from the 53^rd District, Manier said governing isn’t about D or R, it’s about us – the people of Illinois.”

The 53^rd District runs from part of Peoria Heights north to Morris, and Hennepin east to the Indiana state lines, with a population of more than 230,000 including the communities of Dwight, Henry Pontiac, Streator and Washington.

The Labor Council in other business elected officers: President Chase Carlton (IBEW), Executive Vice President Craig Chladny (IATSE), Vice President Robbie Frietsch, Secretary Steve Wagstaff (IBEW), Treasurer Evonne Fleming (AFSCME), Sergeant at arms Bill Purcell (IATSE retired), and Trustees Velma Walton and Gary Hall (both UAW) and Nancy Gardner (Union Retirees). Also named were eights slots in the council’s executive board: Amy Flynn, Holly Hasty, Bill Knight, Jackie Monckton, Vic Murrie, Larry Spears, Lisa Uphoff and Anthony Walraven, with openings remaining.

The Labor Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 27, with a special meeting Dec. 18, when delegates and volunteers will prepare holiday gift bags for students at the council’s “adopt-a-school” – the Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center on Krause Avenue.