HAAS

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

The Shawnee District Labor Council AFL-CIO has endorsed John R. Haas for election to the 90th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives for the Nov. 6 general election.

“The Shawnee District AFL-CIO Council is announcing that we are endorsing John Haas for State Representative,” Council President Donnie Criner said. “We are excited to stand behind John and look forward to supporting him this election year because we know he will work hard for working families throughout Southern Ohio.”

“It means a lot to me,” Haas said. “They represent a lot of the affiliate unions, a lot of locals — public teachers, the prison employees, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) — the middle class, regular people. It’s a big vote of confidence, I think, in the things that I’ve done in the past and what I have indicated I’m interested in doing in the future for the middle class.”

The Shawnee District AFL-CIO Council represents more than 60 local unions in Adams, Scioto and Pike counties. The Council represents school employees and educators, municipal employees and prison guards, electricians and plumbers, factory workers and others.

“In speaking with the members I stressed that I will go to bat for working families at the Statehouse. I want to see social and economic justice for everyone, not just the wealthy and corporate interests. I will better the lives of workers and will stand up on the public issues that affect the lives of so many here in the 90th District,” Haas said.

“When it comes down to it, John has been there for working families throughout his term on Portsmouth’s City Council. He was instrumental in introducing and passing legislation that will ensure city projects will be completed by skilled local workers and not by people traveling from elsewhere. This benefits workers and local business because tax dollars stay within our community instead of being given to out-of-town workers who would take the wages paid by local taxpayers and spend them elsewhere,” Council Secretary/Treasurer Cherice Keyser said. “John was outspoken in his support for the Vote No on Issue 2 campaign, which successfully rebuffed the Republican attack on collective bargaining. He has seen first-hand the devastating effects of the Kasich/Johnson budget on the City and all of Scioto County; especially with the closing of the Juvenile Detention Center in Franklin Furnace and the loss of over 300 family sustaining middle-class jobs, which was a direct result of the Republican-supported budget.”

Criner said Haas understands workers and the need for good-paying, living-wage jobs in the area.

“In our discussions, John makes it very clear he understands the different issues like prevailing wage, right to work and privatization agendas that are pushed by his opponent’s party,” Criner said. “He’s hands down the best candidate. John has been great to work with on any issues that have come up in the City.”

Haas recently received the endorsements of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 575 and the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 577.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.