Big turnout for MWC’s inaugural candidate education forum

More than thirty candidates for the DC Council attended the DC Labor Council’s inaugural candidate education forum on Monday night at the AFL-CIO headquarters. The two-hour event covered many of the top-priority issues for labor in healthcare, education, transportation, and hospitality. Metro Council affiliate leaders spoke in detail about workers rights, affordable housing, the proposed new hospital in Ward 8, protecting the right to collective bargaining, transit operator assaults, railway safety and protecting public education in the District, among many other topics. The forum was the first time the Council has sought to educate the candidates seeking office on the DC Council before beginning the endorsement interviews, and many of the candidates expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about labor’s concerns. “The objective was to make sure that those running for office know what issues are important to the labor movement,” explained Council Political Director David Stephen. “We hope and expect that as they move forward in seeking endorsement of the Council and our affiliates that they will be able to address how they, as lawmakers, would work to empower a stronger labor movement that will lift working people in every ward.” Nearly every candidate seeking a council seat from wards 2,4,7 and 8, as well as an at-large seat, was in attendance on Tuesday, including both challengers and incumbents. The DC COPE committee plans to begin candidate interviews in early March. 

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