| SEIU 1021 reject Lee, back Yee in Mayor's Race
SAN FRANCISCO - Senator Leland Yee has landed the first choice endorsement of the largest organization of city workers - Service Employees International Union (SEIU 1021) - in his campaign for San Francisco Mayor. The move by the 54,000 member union is a complete rejection of the city's top official, interim Mayor Ed Lee.
The endorsement comes after Yee has landed virtually every major labor endorsement in the race, including the California Nurses Association, California School Employees Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, Laborers International Union, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Communication Workers of America, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, among others.
Yee has also been endorsed by the major environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and San Francisco Tomorrow.
"I am proud to be the labor candidate in this race and honored to receive the endorsement from SEIU 1021 and our city's workforce, who run our city and provide us essential services," said Yee. "SEIU 1021 represents some of our lowest paid and hardest working employees, including healthcare workers, nurses, and janitors. Together, we have fought to ensure greater transparency and accountability at City Hall and within state government. I look forward to working with SEIU as we move San Francisco forward."
"Clearly, Leland Yee is the best choice to stand up for working families," said Jim Stearns, Yee's campaign manager. "Unlike some candidates, Leland doesn't believe public employees are the enemy and he'll fight for good-paying jobs and benefits for those who provide essential services to San Francisco residents."
SEIU 1021 also endorsed John Avalos as a first or second choice and Bevan Dufty as a third choice.
SEIU 1021 was founded in 2007 when 10 local unions came together in northern California to form one larger, more powerful union. SEIU 1021 represents public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private non-profits, special districts, public health care, and nursing.
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Yee immigrated to San Francisco at the age of 3. His father, a veteran, served in the US Army and the Merchant Marine, and his mother was a local seamstress. Yee graduated from the University of California - Berkeley, then earned a Ph.D. in Child Psychology, and later served in various mental health and school settings. He and his wife, Maxine, have raised four children who all attended San Francisco public schools. Yee has served in the State Legislature, Board of Supervisors and Board of Education.
Read more at www.lelandyee.com
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