By Globe Staff

The Central Labor Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO, has endorsed Sandre Swanson in the 16th Assembly District in the Democratic Party primary.
“For more than 30 years, Sandre Swanson has provided outstanding leadership and public service to the people of Oakland. Labor enthusiastically endorses Sandre for the Assembly and his election will be a top priority in the 2006 Democratic Primary,” said Sharon Cornu, Executive Secretary-Treasurer. For three decades, Swanson has worked as Chief of Staff and senior policy adviser to Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Ron Dellums. Some of his key achievements on behalf of working people include:
• Working with Congresswoman Lee, Swanson managed the successful effort to secure Congressional authorization for a $252 million dredging project for the Port of Oakland. The “50 Foot Dredging Project” will deepen the port’s harbor to accommodate the latest generation of container vessels. This new shipping capacity for Oakland’s seaport will generate 8,800 additional jobs – many union and local hire.
• Swanson has served as Chairman of the Alameda County Retirement Board and is currently a Trustee for the County of Alameda’s $4.3 billion pension organization that supports the pension system for 15,000 active and retired county employees. Swanson has been a leading voice in the debate against the Governor’s campaign to eliminate public worker pensions as we know them today. Swanson has called the Governor’s efforts “a serious threat to the retirement security for working families in California.”
• Swanson served as Chairman of the city of Oakland’s Civil Service Commission for two terms during Mayor Lionel J. Wilson’s administration. He earned a reputation as a fair Chairman ruling on employee appeals. He was committed to protecting the rights of worker in the workplace and for a fair system of timely promotions in every city department. For many years, Swanson has worked extensively with unions and union members to use the power of the federal government to achieve better wages, health care and safety conditions.
• Swanson is credited with showing leadership and finding creative solutions when the Bay Area was hit hard by military base closures and thousands of people lost their jobs. Swanson is leading efforts to speed up the reuse of former military base land that today is being used for building new homes, creating economic opportunities and where thousands of new jobs are being created.

Swanson has also served as Vice Chairman and Member of the Alameda and Oakland Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authorities.
“Rank and file members interviewed the candidates and carefully reviewed the records,” said Cornu. “Sandre has simply done far more to improve the lives of working people – and we’re confident he’ll be a great leader in the Assembly as well.”
The Alameda County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the East Bay’s most powerful voice on behalf of working people, representing 130 labor unions, with more than 100,000 members.