February 2008 edition of the Union News

Organized labor likely to support Sam Bennett for Congress

By PAUL TUCKER
theunionnewsabe@aol.com

REGION, January 13th- Sam Bennett, 2008 Democratic party candidate in the U.S. House of Representatives 15th District, is likely to receive most of the support of organized labor in the April 22nd primary election and if successful, in the November general election.

Ms. Bennett told the newspaper organized labor is involved with her campaign and some local unions in the Lehigh Valley have already donated the maximum amount of funds allowed to her campaign. Ms. Bennett is attempting to become the Democratic party nominee in the April primary election and challenge two-term incumbent Republican Congressman Charlie Dent.

Any candidate for congress will need to file nomination petitions with at least 1,000 signatures by February 12th to be on the April ballot. William Hall of Northampton County also announced he would seek the Democratic nomination.

Ms. Bennett has attended the most recent meeting of the delegates to the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Lehigh Valley labor federation in Allentown to discuss her campaign and why the working people and their unions should support her candidacy. The organization meets twice monthly at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union Local 375 building on Liberty Street in Allentown.

“Charlie (Dent) hasn’t been there for labor. I promise to go to Washington and be their voice,” said Ms. Bennett.

During 2007 Congressman Dent voted against raising the federal minimum wage and did not support the Employee Free Choice Act, which passed the House of Representatives but failed to become law when the legislation failed in the Senate.

The legislation would have replace how union elections are conducted in workplaces with a “card check” system.

William Newhard, President of the labor federation confirmed Ms. Bennett will likely receive most if not all of the financial support of the 20 affiliated local unions of the organization and their members will be asked to vote for her in the election.