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The Western Kentucky Worker | |
Official newsletter of the Western Kentucky Area
Council, AFL-CIO
Prepared by Berry Craig, KEA-NEA and AFT Local 6038
Volume 9, Number 2, February 2008
Rick Johnson said he wanted to visit with "old friends" before deciding whether to run for the state senate.
“I wouldn't dare do it without talking to you first,” Johnson said at the January council meeting. “I have stood up here in front of you many times, and you have always been there for me."
Johnson filed candidate papers for the May Democratic primary after he met with the council.
If he wins, he will face the Republican incumbent, Ken Winters of Murray, in the November election. First, Johnson must defeat ex-congressman Carroll Hubbard, his primary election foe.
Hubbard has also visited the council seeking support.
Johnson, from Symsonia, is a lawyer and former state court of appeals judge. Hubbard is a Mayfield attorney.
Winters represents the first senate district, which encompasses Carlisle, Hickman, Fulton , Graves, Calloway, Lyon and Trigg Counties . “He is not our friend,” Wiggins said. “He is one of the most anti-union members of the State Senate.”
Hubbard ran for the state senate from the second district two years ago. He narrowly lost to Bob Leeper, I-Paducah, the incumbent, in a three-man race, which included Republican Neal Archer. Hubbard, who was endorsed by the state AFL-CIO, was then living in Paducah .
Also in 2006, Circuit Judge Bill Cunningham of Kuttawa defeated Johnson for the state supreme court. The Kentucky State AFL-CIO endorsed Johnson.
Johnson said he received “a lot of encouragement and support in the [first]…district and statewide” to run for the state senate, which has a Republican majority.
“Issues that are so important to workers are getting held up by [Senate President] David Williams [R-Burkesville] and the Republican senate,” Johnson said. “The [Democratic majority] House and [Democratic] Gov. Steve Beshear can only do so much when they are being resisted at every step of the way by the senate.”
Johnson added, “You have always been able to count on me, and you will be able to count on me if I am elected to the General Assembly. I will be with you 100 percent.
“But we need to do more than take back the senate for the Democrats. We need more than a Democratic majority. We need real advocates for working families.”
Jeff Wiggins, council president, said delegates would not recommend for endorsement, or endorse, any candidate until after the filing deadline. “We also plan to invite candidates to the council and ask their position on issues important to us,” he said.
Johnson said he opposes right-to-work and supports the prevailing wage. He said he is also for collective bargaining rights for public employees.
"This campaign is about which candidate can help provide the effective leadership that is needed in the seven counties to promote community development that will improve the quality of life for all our citizens,” he said.
“Economic security is a daily concern for many of our neighbors. These concerns include…better paying jobs; affordable, quality health care; and affordable, quality education.”
With Johnson when he filed in Frankfort were his wife, Lucretia, and their children Candace and Quentin. Ed Worley, the senate Democratic leader, was also present.
“For too long, the families and communities in this region of the state have been forgotten,” said Johnson in the press release announcing his candidacy. “As state senator, I will work hard every day to change that and to expand economic and educational opportunities for every citizen.
He added, “The choice voters have this May is very simple: who can provide the kind of honest, effective leadership in the state senate that garners the trust and respect of his fellow senators necessary to get things done for the working families and businesses here in the seven counties in the First District.”
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Coursey earns union support for his candidacy
Jeff Wiggins, left, welcomes Will Coursey to the January Area Council meeting.
The state AFL-CIO endorsed Will Coursey for the state house of representatives.
“Will received our unanimous recommendation for endorsement,” said Jeff Wiggins, president of the Paducah-based Western Kentucky Area Council, AFL-CIO. “We were confident the state AFL-CIO would agree with us.”
Coursey, a 29-year-old Benton banker who lives in Elva, is the Democratic candidate in the Feb. 5 special election to fill the unexpired term of State Rep. J.R. Gray, Kentucky 's newly-named commissioner of labor.
Coursey sought labor support at the January council meeting. “It won't be my last visit – not by a long shot,” promised Coursey. "I won't be a stranger."
The candidate added, “I know I've got some awfully big shoes to fill because J.R. Gray was labor's strongest supporter in Frankfort . But give me a chance, and I will be just as strong on labor issues as he was.”
Gray has deep union roots. He was directing business representative for Machinists District Lodge 154 in Calvert City for 19 years.
Benny Adair, council vice president, holds Gray's old union job. He proposed that the council recommend Coursey for endorsement. Delegate Randy Gray, J.R. Gray's son, seconded Adair.
Coursey lives in Elva in Marshall County . He said he grew up in a union family.
"I understand union issues. I will never support the so-called right-to-work. I am for the prevailing wage, and I am for collective bargaining rights for public employees. I will work hard to gain the trust that unions put in J.R. Gray when he was in the General Assembly."
Gray resigned his Sixth District House seat to become state labor commissioner. A Benton Democrat, he spent 26 years in the legislature.
State law requires a special election to fill out the unexpired term of a lawmaker. Marvin Wilson, an Eddyville attorney, is Coursey's Republican opponent.
“Marvin Wilson is wrong on our issues,” said Wiggins, a Steelworker who is also on the state AFL-CIO Executive Board. “He supports right-to-work for less, and he is for gutting the prevailing wage law.”
Gray defeated Wilson in 2004 and 2006. “My opponent has run twice, and he's been beaten twice,” Coursey said. “He has been consistent, I'll give him that. I'm going to see that he maintains that consistency.”
However, Coursey said he is taking nothing for granted. “I plan to work hard to gain the confidence of the people of our district that J.R. had and deservedly so.
“But the ‘W' in Wilson stands for wrong. Marvin Wilson is wrong for labor, wrong for this district, and he is wrong for Kentucky .”
On the other hand, Gray, according to Coursey, “was a true champion of the working men and women, not only in the sixth district, but across the state. I think he will make a fantastic labor commissioner and labor secretary, and I commend Gov. [Steve] Beshear for appointing him.” Gray is expected to become labor secretary in April when Beshear restores the labor cabinet by executive order.
“I am also a product of union wages,” Coursey said. “My mother, Lisa McIntyre, is a member of Steelworkers Local 1-102-A. My father, Larry Coursey, who has passed away, was a member of Operating Engineers Local 181. My grandfather, Randall Coursey, who is also with the Lord now, was business agent for Local 181.”
Coursey's grandson was House Speaker Jody Richards' executive officer for almost six years before he returned to his native Marshall County and went to work at the Community Financial Services Bank in Benton , the county seat.
Coursey is a lending officer. He said he also handles public relations for the bank.
“I think I will bring youth, experience and enthusiasm to the office of state representative,” he said. “I have also been told by the house leadership that when I am elected I will also be given significant rank on the House Labor and Industry Committee, which J.R. ably chaired for most of his time in Frankfort .”
Gray represented Marshall and Lyon counties and a small part of McCracken County . “I look forward to serving the people as J.R. did so well for so long,” Coursey said.
Meanwhile, Coursey said he has lined up veteran Democratic strategist and consultant Kim Geveden to advise his campaign. Kyle Henderson, business agent for Paducah Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 184, is also helping Coursey.
“We're going to have some great radio and TV spots,” the candidate said. “Gov. Beshear and Speaker Richards are going to cut some good spots for me. We're going to get our message out.”
Bringing good industrial jobs to western Kentucky was part of Coursey's message to council delegates. “If you will send me to the house of representatives, I will fight tooth and nail to keep our best and brightest young people right here in western Kentucky ,” he said. “I will do what I can do to recruit jobs and industry and maintain the jobs we have.”
He asked delegates “humbly and cap-in-hand” for their support. “I appreciate you, and I need you, Coursey said. “The Republican party, prior to the gubernatorial election said that organized labor in Kentucky was on its last legs. They were mistaken. Without organized labor's help, Steven Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo would not be governor and lieutenant governor today, and I say that with all sincerity.”Return to Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council Home Page
W.C. Young Award nominations will be sought in February
Joe Phelps, Louisville-based AFSCME Council 62 staff representative, was sworn in as a new delegate at the January council meeting. Phelps is also an officer with the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council.
In other business, Jeff Wiggins, council president, announced that nominations for the 2008 W.C. Young Award will be accepted at the February council meeting.
The Young Award is the highest honor the council bestows. It is named for the late W.C. Young, a national labor and civil rights leader from Paducah . Young received the first award in 1994.
Young spent 46 years in the labor movement. He retired in 1987 as Region 10 director of the AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education. He died in 1996 at age 77.
Delegates nominate candidates for the award, and the council Executive Board chooses the recipient. “As always, I expect this year's nominees and recipient to reflect the spirit of W.C. Young, whom many were privileged to count as a brother and a good friend,” Wiggins said.
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Most local incumbents are headed for November election
Mike Lawrence, left, shares a lighter moment with Steve Beshear at the Labor Day picnic in Paducah . Lawrence hopes to join Beshear in Frankfort . (Photo by BERRY CRAIG)
Just one primary election will be contested in deep western Kentucky, a state senate race that pits a former congressman against an ex-judge.
Everybody else gets a free pass to the November 4 general election.
Democrats Carroll Hubbard of Mayfield and Rick Johnson of Symsonia will battle for the right to face Sen. Ken Winters of Murray, the Republican incumbent, in the fall. Winters represents the seven county first senate district. Hubbard held the seat before he was elected to Congress. Johnson is a former state Court of Appeals judge.
Meanwhile, State Reps. Fred Nesler of Mayfield, Frank Rasche of Paducah , Mike Cherry of Princeton and Melvin Hendley of Murray have no primary opposition. All four are Democrats, Hendley having switched from the Republican party last year.
State Rep. Steven Rudy, a West Paducah Republican, faces a challenge from McCracken County Circuit Court Clerk Mike Lawrence, a Democrat, in November. Lawrence had no opposition in the May primary.
Regardless of the outcome of a special election on Feb. 5, Democrat Will Coursey of Elva and Republican Marvin Wilson of Eddyville will square off again in November. Coursey and Wilson are matched in a special election to fill out the unexpired term of State Rep. J.R. Gray, D-Benton, who resigned to become state labor commissioner. Coursey and Wilson also filed for the May primary. Since neither have primary opponents, they will meet again in November.
The council unanimously recommended Nesler, Rasche and Cherry for endorsement in 2006. Rudy also was recommended. The state AFL-CIO endorsed all four.
The state AFL-CIO has already endorsed Coursey. He is expected to be endorsed again for the November general election.
Nesler, Rasche, Cherry and Hendley will run unopposed in November because no Republicans filed in the May primary to face them in the fall.
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Labor Day Committee votes to put on one-day program
The 2008 Labor Day program has been pared down to just Labor Day.
“The three-day program has become too much work for too few people,” said Jeff Wiggins, council president and president of the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee. “But we still pledge to put on a quality program that we can all be proud of.”
The committee, an all-volunteer group that puts on the city's Labor Day observance, met in January and voted to have a one-day program this year.
Wiggins said the festivities will include the traditional parade, picnic and political speaking. “We will be electing a president, senator, congressman and state and local officials,” Wiggins said. “So we should have a good turnout of politicians.”
Wiggins said last year's parade was one of the largest since the Labor Day program was resurrected in 1975. “We think this year's parade will be as large or maybe even larger,” he added.
As always, the parade will be on Labor Day morning and will go up Broadway from Second to 17 th St. The political speaking and picnic will follow in the afternoon at Carson Park . Wiggins said the agenda will likely include a band, too.
The Labor Day Committee works year round to raise money from unions and other sources to host the Labor Day program. "We don't get any money from the city or state governments," Wiggins said.
Admission is free.
The city's first Labor Day parades date to the 1890s. The processions lasted until after World War II when they stopped for reasons not clear.
“Even though the program won't be as large, we still need help – lots of help,” Wiggins said. “This is still one of the best Labor Day programs in the state. But we need some new blood to help keep it going.”
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Eight Democrats line up to face McConnell in the fall
U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell will face Democratic opponents in the Nov. 4 general election.
Eight Democrats filed in the May primary for the U.S. senate. Heather A. Ryan of Paducah is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. She will challenge Whitfield in the fall.
“Ed Whitfield and Mitch McConnell are two of the most anti-labor members of Congress,” said Jeff Wiggins, council president. “They've got to go.”
Democrats Andrew Horne, Bruce Lunsford, David L. Williams, David Wiley, Greg Fischer, James E. Rice, Kenneth Stepp and Michael Cassero all want a crack at McConnell. Daniel Essek is challenging McConnell in the May GOP primary, but he is given almost no chance to win.
“We got a lot of momentum going when we elected Steve Beshear last November,” Wiggins said. “We've got to keep it up in '08 and elect a lot more labor friendly candidates from the president on down.”
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