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Kelliher picks up MAPE endorsement

The nod from the state employees union is the DFL gubernatorial candidate's first labor endorsement

November 12, 2009 at 4:18PM

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, picked up her first union endorsement of her 2010 bid for governor.

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees announced they'd back her over the other 11 DFL and seven GOP candidates in the race today.

Here's what MAPE said in announcing their backing:

SHOREVIEW – The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) has endorsed Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

"We believe Speaker Kelliher's proven leadership skills and her ability to manage the state in difficult times make her the strongest candidate," said MAPE Statewide President Chet Jorgenson. "Speaker Kelliher is willing to bring people together to solve problems in a crisis. She has a history of respect for state workers and the jobs they do. It is for these reasons that MAPE's elected officials endorsed Speaker Kelliher for governor of Minnesota."

For two days, MAPE's elected officials met one-on-one with candidates who want to be the next governor of Minnesota. This was a monumental, first-ever political conference hosted by MAPE Monday and Tuesday in Roseville.

All candidates for governor of Minnesota were given a full opportunity to meet with MAPE's elected officials and to tell them why they are the best candidate. One candidate stood above the rest. Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher is that candidate.

"We believe she is the most electable candidate in the race," said MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe. "Speaker Kelliher can raise the necessary money, has the necessary experience to guide this state in hard times and has a superior campaign structure."

MAPE is the largest union of professional state employees in Minnesota and has more than 12,700 members. MAPE's professionals provide essential services to the citizens of Minnesota, such as keeping our lakes and rivers clean, protecting us from food-borne illnesses and identifying pandemics.

Unions have been split in their backing so far among the 12 DFL candidates in the race.

Before the MAPE endorsement, Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, had lacked formal union backing. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has backing from Teamsters Local 120; state Rep. Paul Thissen has the Nurses Association; state Rep. Tom Rukavina has four local steelworkers' unions; state Sen. Tom Bakk has the regional carpenters' union and former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton has backing from the state's largest public employees union, known as AFSCME.

Education Minnesota and SEIU, two large and politically active unions, have yet to endorse in the 2010 governor's race. Education Minnesota's endorsement may come in December; SEIU will endorse in January at the earliest.