Posted on 01/28/2006 7:04:10 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Have you heard the one about the preacher's son who was running for political office?
It gets better (and by "better," I don't mean "funny.")
The preacher's son, John Lujan, is an 18-year veteran of the San Antonio Fire Department. For each of those 18 years, he's voluntarily paid his dues to the union, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.
This is the same association that operates under the umbrella of the local AFL-CIO, which represents a variety of local unions.
It's also the same association that recently endorsed Lujan in his bid for state representative in House District 118.
So you can't exactly blame Lujan for thinking he might have a shot at the larger AFL-CIO endorsement. Can you?
You can, if you're the AFL-CIO.
Lujan never even got an invitation to the organization's candidate's forum two weeks ago. Thinking it was a mistake, Lujan showed up anyway and was given the cold shoulder.
He was not allowed to speak — even for a couple of minutes.
So what sin did this son and grandson of Baptist preachers commit? He filed in the wrong primary. He is a Republican.
"I was angry," Lujan said. "I told them, 'I'm ready for any bashing that you want to give me, but I've been a union member for 18 years and I should have the right to be heard.'"
Bob Salvatore, a local AFL-CIO official for four decades now, isn't about to apologize.
"We're not a public organization where we have to bring everybody in," he said.
He said the AFL-CIO's chief goal is to steer voters toward the March 7 Democratic primary to help former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez win back his Congressional District 28 seat.
"Why would we entertain a Republican?" Salvatore asked flatly.
Chris Steele, the president of the firefighter's union, said the situation concerns him at a time when unions nationwide are declining in numbers and influence, partly because they are viewed as a partisan arm of the Democratic Party.
"We're working toward change," Steele said. "It's a matter of getting some of the longtime, long-standing (AFL-CIO) board members to recognize the new paradigm.
"As long as we're held hostage to one party, we won't get the respect of everyone," he said.
Change will be slow, however.
Told that the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which split off from the AFL-CIO in an ugly divorce last year, is entertaining primary candidates from both parties, Salvatore deadpanned: "Good for them."
Lujan remains a long shot to emerge from the Republican primary. His better-known foes include George Antuna, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Steve Salyer, who ran for the post two years ago.
But Lujan can take solace in the fact that the AFL-CIO has been embarrassingly wrong before.
Three years ago, the AFL-CIO told a little-known City Council candidate named Richard Perez that they simply didn't have the time to interview every candidate on the city ballot.
The implication was that they were only focusing on viable candidates.
Perez is now serving his second term on the council and is considered the right-hand man of Mayor Phil Hardberger.
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Political Editor Jaime Castillo's column appears on Saturdays. E-mail him at jscastillo@express-news.net
Guess even as a Union member I have to agree here. My political affiliation is of no concern to my Union. Should it become one I will fight like hell to differ!!!
Die, Unions!!!
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