By: By Mark Campaign On: 09:54AM / Monday July 12, 2010
Paul Mark, candidate for state representative in the Second Berkshire district, has received the endorsement of the Berkshire Central Labor Council.
The Council is a coalition of Berkshire County unions with 45 representatives from more than 25 trade groups. The organization recently hosted a forum, and voted to endorse Mark after brief speeches and a question period from each of the candidates who were present.
“We need somebody in the legislature who will be tough and honest, and Paul has those qualities,” said Herb Scholtz, a council delegate from Ironworkers Local 12.
“It is a great honor to receive the endorsement of the Berkshire Central Labor Council,” stated Mark. “The delegates recognized that nobody in this race will fight harder to improve the quality of life for working families in our district and throughout Massachusetts.”
“The unanimous endorsement of Paul, based on his experience and personal convictions, means that he’s the candidate of choice for organized labor,” Jerome F. Moran, a delegate from the UFCW Local 1459.
The endorsement comes on the heels of Mark receiving the support of Mass Nurses Association, Teamsters, and UAW, which represent diverse trades including ambulance workers, truck drivers, and graduate students.
Mark has also received an endorsement from MassAlliance, a coalition composed of 22 progressive groups. The organization’s member groups include state chapters of Sierra Club, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Organization for Women, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, among others.
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
The quote by Mr. Scholtz should read "we need somebody in the Legislature who will vote to raise our taxes" because raising taxes is at the top of organized labor's agenda. Same with MassAlliance. To get their endorsement, a candidate must support raising the income tax to its 1999 level of 5.95%. Paul Mark equals higher taxes.
you can't fix this economic mess we are in with tax cuts. we'll see how happy everyone is with lower taxes when there are no more public schools, paved roads, local business, etc. plus, i have read in the little that the Berkshire Eagle reports on this election (or anything of substance for that matter that isn't just copied and pasted from the NY Times) that Paul Mark supports a progressive income tax which would take a lot of the burden off of lower income families and I think it's hard to deny that the rich deserve a higher tax burden after the break they received in the Bush era that we are all witnessing the backlash of now! we need someone representing the needs of the struggling middle class that has actual ideas on bringing income IN for people, not focusing on taking FROM the people with worthless cuts that only end up hurting the little guy. if anyone is for tax cuts to businesses, corporations, and the rich while inevitably necessitating budget cuts for schools and seniors they should vote Szepaniak! I'm voting for the guy that will create jobs for the people who would gladly pay a higher income tax if it meant they got an income at all!!
The cities of Pittsfield and North Adams will hold municipal elections for mayor, city council and school committee in 2015
You may vote absentee: if you will be absent from your town or city on election day, have a physical disability that prevents you from voting at the polls or cannot vote at the polls because to religious beliefs.
State Election
