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R.I. AFL-CIO makes first Republican endorsement since 1986 [1]

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Date: 2014-10-15

?Jennifer Bogdan

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO has endorsed a Republican. The executive board of the federation met Tuesday, unanimously voting to endorse Catherine Taylor for lieutenant governor.

“Catherine’s understanding of the many challenges everyday Rhode Islanders face, along with her established track record of listening to the concerns of her employees while running the Division of Elderly Affairs, makes her the right choice for the office of lieutenant governor,” state AFL-CIO President George Nee said in a statement Wednesday.

Not since 1986 has the state federation endorsed a Republican. That year it supported John W. Lyle Jr., who lost his bid for secretary of state. It also supported U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider in her successful reelection bid.

During the state AFL-CIO convention last month, the group voted to oppose Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee, a Democrat, and defer an endorsement decision for Taylor until further meetings with the federation’s affiliated unions. The federation cited McKee’s support for charter schools among its reasons for not backing him.

“I’m honored and humbled to be the first Republican endorsed by the [state] AFL-CIO in almost thirty years,” Taylor said in a statement. “Every voter I’ve met over the last four months has expressed a deep frustration with our political discourse and the state of our economy. People are ready and eager to move away from dysfunction and discord. I’m grateful that the AFL-CIO and its members believe in my vision and ability to help turn Rhode Island around.”

In response, McKee issued a statement saying he was encouraged by the results of the recent Providence Journal-WPRI-12 poll that shows McKee with a lead of 9.3 percentage points over Taylor. The poll also shows McKee leading Taylor in voters who are union affiliated, 33.3 percent to 29.2 percent.

“These are people who recognize that Dan worked very well with Cumberland’s three municipal unions … negotiating contracts in good faith and preparing to leave office with all contracts in place,” McKee spokesman Mike Trainor said. “He believes that his message that Rhode Island needs new leadership rather than recycled leadership is resonating with all voters.”

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[1] Url: https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/15/20141015-r-i-afl-cio-makes-first-republican-endorsement-since-1986-ece/35270409007/

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