State's Largest AFL-CIO Union Endorses DeStefano

May 15, 2006

Hartford, CT, May 15, 2006 - Council 4 AFSCME, Connecticut's largest AFL-CIO union, today announced its endorsement of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano in the race for the Governor. "We enthusiastically support John because he understands and embraces the challenges that face hard-working people. The issues that matter to us - like universal health care, quality education, property tax reform and workers' rights - matter to John DeStefano," said Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano.

"Mayor DeStefano also shares our members' concern for a government that is accountable to the taxpayers, committed to the utmost ethical standards and dedicated to the highest quality public services," Luciano added. "Gov. Rell on the other hand has consistently shown unresponsiveness to taxpayers and public services by backing away from her promise to rid the state of Rowland era corruption."

DeStefano welcomed the Council 4 endorsement: "I am grateful for the endorsement of Council 4 - representing nearly 40,000 working men and women - many of whom are public servants. They have felt firsthand the failure of Governors Rowland and Rell to work collaboratively with state workers in order to make Connecticut a better place for our families. Together we will work together to make Connecticut a national leader in health care, energy, and job growth. Over the next five months I look forward to building a winning coalition, one that can stand up to the legion of Republican special interests that will flood out state this summer, determined to keep their governor in power," DeStefano added.

Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO represents more than 35,000 employees throughout Connecticut and is affiliated with the 1.4 million-member AFSCME International Union based in Washington, D.C.

DeStefano has earned the endorsement of 40 labor organizations, representing more than 160,000 working men and women, and he's been endorsed by dozens of elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Rep. John Larson, and Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan. In addition, the DeStefano campaign has raised more than $3.3 million, more than any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Connecticut history.