Swisher Wins City Fed Endorsement

Swisher Wins City Fed Endorsement

In a not surprising move, the Iowa City Federation of Labor endorsed Sarah Swisher for one of the three available Iowa City school board seats.

Swisher, one of the founding leaders of SEIU Local 199, also co-chaired the 2003 Yes For Kids bond campaign. She stressed equity issues as one of her main reasons for running.

“What we are is a segregated district in 2009 in liberal Johnson County,” she told delegates. You probably won't hear people using language like that because it makes people uncomfortable to talk about poverty and color, but it's very real and it isn't acceptable.”

The labor group held out the possibility of a second endorsement for Tuyet Dorau, who also attended. A matter of a missing questionnaire (a prerequisite for any labor endorsement) held up final consideration.

Surveys from North Liberty high school backer Anne Johnson and Weber PTO leader April Armstrong were considered and rejected. "I think there's only one person here who scored high enough to even consider," said City Fed president Pat Hughes after the surveys were discussed.

Jean Jordison and incumbent Mike Cooper did not complete labor surveys. Josh Kaine and Jeff Manthey are on the ballot but have announced their withdrawal from the race.

In other matters, the City Fed made plans for the Sept. 7 Labor Day Picnic and urged members to attend Rep. Dave Loebsack's Saturday forum.

"I'm not too worried about Dave doing us wrong on either health care or the Employee Free Choice Act," said Hughes.