We Made Our Voices Heard on Election Day

Union Members Elect All 15 Endorsed Candidates in Fairfax County

On November 8th, FCGEU-SEIU members made our voices heard at the polls, as we ensured victory for every Pro-County Employee, Pro-Union candidate we endorsed. "This election was about ensuring that working people are able to put food on their table and have a voice on the job," said FCGEU President and Fairfax County engineer Karen Conchar.

The 2011 elections represented a real victory for elected officials who stand up for county employees and home care workers; whether those elected officials were Democrats, Republicans or Independents. More importantly, howevever, the 2011 elections represent a victory for working families, who mobilized to make sure that Fairfax continues to be a great place to work, live and play.

Union members have been working on the election all year to ensure that candidates addressed the issues that are important to our community, our members and our families. After surverying over 500 of our fellow members, the Union's Election Committee drafted a Candidate Questionnaire, which was sent to all candidates. The Questionnaire asked candidates to take stands on pay raises, protecting our pensions, reforming Pay-for-Performance, providing quality services to county residents, and much more. The Election Committee also interviewed all the candidates and researched their stances on the issues. After all this work was done, members voted on which candidates to endorse for the County Board and for the State Senate. 

Once we endorsed candidates, our members went to work, knocking on doors and making phone calls, to make sure that our Pro-County Employee, Pro-Union candidates won on Election Day! Together with other SEIU Home Care and Janitor members, as well as SEIU staff from the DC office, our members made over 15,000 door-knocks and phone calls!

The result? All 15 endorsed candidates won! 

In the end, FCGEU-SEIU made the difference in some of the most competitive races in the entire state, electing Pro-Union Republicans like Supervisor John Cook and Pro-Union Democrats like Senators George Barker and Dave Marsden. We sent a message to both parties in this election: Supporting working families is the way to win elections!

Jon Miskell, union member from the Housing Department, made this point when he said, "It is critical for our membership to support our endorsed candidates. Case in point is the Braddock District Supervisor Race. Our endorsed candidate, Supervisor John Cook, won a close election by just 376 votes. FCGEU members made the difference during GOTV weekend distributing door hangers and making phone calls."

The complete list of victorious candidates includes: Chairman Sharon Bulova and Supervisors John Cook, John Foust, Michael Frey, Penny Gross, Cathy Hudgins, Gerry Hyland, and Jeff McKay; Sheriff Stan Bury; and Senators George Barker, Adam Ebbin, Barbara Favola, Mark Herring, Dave Marsden and Chap Petersen.

But our work isn't over yet. 

With the election behind us, the real work of providing quality public services is just beginning. Union members will need to keep the pressure on our newly-elected Supervisors to make sure they keep good on their pledges to fund county services for residents and fair pay raises for employees. Furthermore, with the state Senate in a 20-20 tie between Democrats and Republicans, we will need to keep the pressure on all Senators to restore cuts to the pay and hours of our Home Care worker sisters and brothers.

To get more involved in the Union's efforts to hold elected officials accountable, please contact Political Organizer Frank Hood at Frank.Hood@seiuva.org