Labor Turnout Key to Wins in Virginia

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

"We said from the very beginning that turnout was the key," said a weary but jubilant Dan Duncan (at right) last night just after Terry McAuliffe's victory as Virginia's next governor was announced. "We did our part in Northern Virginia and I'm just so proud of everyone who showed up and helped out," the NoVA Labor president said. Union member Stacey Kincaid also won; she'll be the first female sheriff in Fairfax County. Union members, staff and leaders had criss-crossed the state yesterday in a final effort to turn out the labor vote for union-endorsed candidates. “No vote can be taken for granted,” said Roxy Mejia, Director of Political Affairs for Painters District Council 51. “Electing labor-friendly folks makes all the difference,” Painters DC 51 Business Agent Lynn Taylor(at left in top photo) said. He and Hector Martinez, an out-of-work Painters DC 51 member, were door-knocking in Woodbridge yesterday morning, turning out the union vote for labor candidates in the Virginia elections. “That’s why we turn out every year and why we ask our members to give their time.” The Painters turned out the most volunteers in the NoVA Labor GOTV effort, with more than 150, with CWA’s nearly 100 volunteers in second place, and AFT in third, with 62. Overall, more than 500 union volunteers logged thousands of hours over the last 10 weeks -- and consumed countless donuts and slices of pizza -- door-knocking over 14,000 union households in Northern Virginia. photo at left: Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams with a Virginia voter. report/photos by Chris Garlock