(SACRAMENTO) – Office seekers in California who want SEIU members’ endorsements will be going to work with SEIU members in the coming weeks and doing their work with them. The program, “Walk A Day In My Shoes,” is part of an effort to ensure that every candidate endorsed by the union has direct experience and understanding of a union member’s work. SEIU members are asking candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, State Superintendent for Public Instruction, and State Attorney General to walk a day in their shoes by joining them at home and their work places.
In addition to the candidates for statewide office, dozens of candidates for Senate and Assembly are also participating.
“When a politician weighs cutting home care, slashing Child Welfare Services, or outsourcing school workers’ jobs, we feel a lot more confident if he or she has walked a day in an SEIU member’s shoes,” said Bill A. Lloyd, President of SEIU California. “Doing leads to understanding, and understanding SEIU members’ hard work and heart means valuing our contributions.”
One candidate for State Superintendent, Larry Aceves, has already taken the Walk A Day In My Shoes challenge, accompanying cafeteria worker Eladia Vazquez to the middle school where she works.
“It was important to me to show him how much we do and how much we care for the kids,” said Vazquez. “We need an advocate for the kids who understands the important role we play in making sure that they have the right conditions to learn.”
“Walk A Day In My Shoes” is part of a national program to enable SEIU members to learn more about candidates running for office. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and others have participated in the program in the past.
Upcoming “Walk A Day In My Shoes” events are slated for:
Tuesday, February 23
Gloria Romero, candidate for State Superintendent
South Gate Middle School
4100 Firestone Blvd.
South Gate, CA 90280
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Monday, March 1, 2010
Rocky Delgadillo , candidate for State Attorney General
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tom Torlakson, candidate for State Superintendent
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hector De La Torre, candidate for State Insurance Commissioner
Friday, March 5, 2010
Albert Torrico, candidate for State Attorney General
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Dave Jones, candidate for Insurance Commissioner
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Ted Lieu, candidate for State Attorney General
Friday, March 12, 2010
Pedro Nava, candidate for State Attorney General
Monday, March 15, 2010
Chris Kelly, candidate for State Attorney General
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Kamala Harris, candidate for State Attorney General
More “Walk A Day In My Shoes” events will be announced as they are scheduled. Listed dates are subject to change. Call for additional details.
###
SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California. We come together to build a better California by fighting to pass policies and elect candidates that benefit working families and advance the issues we care about: affordable healthcare, good wages, retirement security for all, a healthy environment, good schools and universities, and stronger communities. We believe that by working together we can build a California where working families can thrive again.