Meetings The DC COPE meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month (except for July and August) at IATSE Local 22 (1810 Hamlin St, NE, Washington, DC 20018). 6pm to 8pm
Montgomery County & Prince George's County COPE meeting meets every 2nd Thursday of every month (except for July and August) UFCW 400 8400 Corporate Dr #200, Landover, MD 20785 10am to 12noon
TriCounty COPE meets normally the last Tuesday of every month at American Legion 6330 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646 7pm to 9pm
Get Involved For more information about DC COPE, Maryland COPE in Charles, St. Mary's Calvert and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, contact David Dzidzienyo (info below).
Staff
David Dzidzienyo Director of Legislative/Political Affairs 202-320-9027 (office) [email protected]
MWC AFL-CIO 2018 General Election Endorsements
(10/2/2018) Here's the complete and latest Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education 2018 General Election Endorsement List. It includes endorsements in the District of Columbia, Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles and St Mary's counties. Please direct questions and comments to MWC Political Director David Dzidzienyo [email protected]
2018 Political Calendar Important Dates
Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - DC City Council Ctte on Health – Providence Hospital Hearing October 15, 2018 - State of Virginia – Voter Registration Deadline October 16, 2018 - District of Columbia - Voter Registration Deadline October 16, 2018 - State of Maryland - Voter Registration Deadline Tuesday, November 6, 2018 – District of Columbia/ State of Maryland/Virginia General Election
Metro Washington AFL-CIO Endorses in DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s Primaries
“With the Supreme Court ruling on Janus vs. AFSCME expected any day, political engagement by union voters is more important than ever,” said Metro Washington Council president Jackie Jeter in announcing endorsements in upcoming local primaries. “These candidates have proven their commitment to the issues that affect the working men and women of our communities and deserve the full support of the local labor movement.”
The Metro Council released endorsements in the following races: DC Mayor, Council and Attorney General; Montgomery County Council, Prince George’s County Council and Prince George’s County Board of Education. Click here for the complete list.
The Metro Council also endorses Cynthia Collins (SEIU 400) for the PG Democratic Central Committee (At-Large) and Initiative 77 in the District.
Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO releases primary endorsements
Saying that “Wages, benefits, workers’ protection, and every facet of our working lives, are greatly affected by the decisions made – and votes cast – by lawmakers,” the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO earlier this week released its endorsements in the upcoming primaries for U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress, Maryland Senate and Maryland House of Delegates (click here for the complete list). The endorsements of metro DC area candidates were based on recommendations by the Metro Washington Council’s Montgomery/Prince George’s and Tri-County COPE. Endorsements in local races in DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s County will be considered at meetings on May 7 and 11 (see Calendar).
TOM DERNOGA (Prince George’s County District 001, top left) is an attorney, long time civic and environmental activist. He has represented numerous organizations and citizens in protecting the quality of life in their community. He's consistently fought for ethical, open and transparent government. Tom been endorsed by numerous progressive, environmental and labor organizations including the Prince George's County Educators' Association and the AFL-CIO.
SYDNEY HARRISON (Prince George’s County District 009, top middle): After being abandoned at birth, Sydney was adopted by the Harrison family, raised in southern Prince George’s County, attended public schools, and graduated from Frederick Douglass Senior High. In 2014, Sydney was elected to serve as the Clerk of the Court, for Prince George’s County and the Democratic Central Committee. He successfully manages 208 employees and oversees $58 million in annual revenue. Under Sydney’s leadership, the Clerk’s Office successfully streamlined business operations, improved workflow and service delivery, as well as instituted his acclaimed “We Care Standard.”
BRIANNE K. NADEAU (District of Columbia City Council - Ward 1, top right) has been a DC Councilmember representing Ward 1 since 2015, and has distinguished herself as a leader on affordable housing, education, and supporting working families. She grew up in a union family, with organizers in both of the generations that came before her. She lives in Park View with her husband Jayson, and daughter Zoe, and is proud to be a working mom, serving others.
EDITH J. PATTERSON (MD House of Delegates D28, row 2, left): Throughout my years of public service, I have been a proven Democratic leader who has remained committed to serving as the voice and advocacy for working families and creating opportunities for a better quality of life. During my four - year tenure representing District 28 in the House of Delegates, I’ve been hard at work putting Maryland Families First, voting to increase the State’s Minimum Wage for thousands of working families; to provide 700,000 hardworking Marylanders with Paid Sick Leave; supported legislation to reduce health care and prescription costs to ensure working families have health care access. With your help, I will continue to be your Strong Voice in the House of Delegates for District 28 Families.
SAMIR PAUL (MD House of Delegates, D16) is a public school teacher. The son of Indian immigrants, he grew up in Montgomery County and studied computer science at Harvard. After working on the 2012 Obama campaign in rural Wisconsin and spending two years serving government clients at IBM, Samir returned in 2014 to teach computer science in the very same MCPS classroom where he was once a high-school student; he was named Montgomery County's Rising Star Teacher of the year in 2016.
SUSIE PROCTOR (MD State Delegate, row 2, middle): I believe in strong leadership to create better working conditions from wages to contracts, from advocacy to empowerment. AFL-CIO unions provide these benefits for workers and I provide leadership at the state level to support unions. I will always support working people and the organizations that support them. Vote for those who support your work!
JOSHUA THOMAS (Prince George’s County District 002, row 2, right): I’m a native Prince Georgian and alumnus of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD. Why am I running? I’m a former middle school teacher, and I remember the challenges of teaching in an underfunded school system in which I had no way of expressing my concerns to those who were elected to represent me. I want to amplify the voices of teachers, families, and students because I understand their struggles in education from firsthand experience. I fully believe that educators can make the best decisions for public education, and I pledge to act in the best interest of working families in every tough decision I face as a board member for Prince George's County Public Schools.
2018 Questionnaire: download here
CLICK HERE to download the 2018 Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO Prince George's/Montgomery County Primary Election Questionnaire. Questions? Email David Dzidzienyo at ddzidzienyo@dclabor.org
