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On Sep. 24, Huntsville will be holding runoff elections for school board and city council positions in District 1. On Aug. 27, none of the three city council candidates came away with more than 50 percent of the vote, nor did any of the four candidates running for school board.
Michelle Watkins, who secured 49.51 percent of the original vote, will be facing Devyn Keith (40.83 percent) in the city council runoff. Meanwhile, Chaundra Jones (39.1 percent) and Pat King (34.9 percent) will be the two runoff candidates for school board.
Ahead of the 24th, The North Alabama Area Labor Council (NAALC) has publicly endorsed Watkins and King in their respective races. “Both candidates promise to support Huntsville’s organized labor and other workers. With this endorsement, the NAALC is committing to do everything we can to mobilize voters and win this election for our endorsed candidates,” reads the NAALC press release.
Jacob Morrison, a member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1858 and President of the NAALC, elaborated on why the NAALC decided to endorse Watkins and King. “In Huntsville’s District 1, as with all other parts of the country, workers are the majority,” Morrison said. “These candidates – union members themselves – have made strong, material commitments to Huntsville’s working class. It is because of those commitments, and their history of support for working people, that our members voted overwhelmingly to endorse each candidate.”
Working to appoint union members and working people to existing city boards and commissions, creating “a commission devoted to labor and workforce participation led by representatives of organized labor,” and fighting against attacks on the Retirement Systems of Alabama and pension cuts, are among the commitments made by Watkins and King.
Additionally, the candidates have pledged to respect the current “Meet and Confer” policy for school worker organizations, help the NAALC expand its “Labor in the Schools” campaign, use union printing shops for campaign materials going forward, and publicly support unions and union campaigns.
Watkins and King themselves are both members of AFGE Local 1858.
According to the NAALC, Watkins has also “suggested regular monthly meetings with the NAALC to ensure that workers and organized labor are considered when creating municipal policies.”
Other individual union members have also expressed their support for the two candidates.
“Michelle Watkins gives all she can to her community” said Nadine Washington, a District 1 resident and member of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 359. “As an educator, federal government employee, and as a school board member, Michelle’s work to ensure equity and inclusion is changing lives and making a great impact on our city. I am proud to stand with her for City Council and know her fight for fairness, transparency, equity, and justice is exactly what we need in our city.”
“Pat King is the most qualified person to run for District 1’s school board position. As an educator of STEM, Pat King’s commitment to a cause is unwavering and she will always follow through on her word,” Washington added. “In all she does, Pat exemplifies honesty, fairness, and thoughtfulness. Pat will use those qualities to create a better balance between the school board, stakeholders, students, and constituents.”
Gavin Brunner, a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 44 also expressed support for Watkins, “Michelle’s work on Huntsville’s School Board has shown transparency and A+ communication with the Community that will be a fresh breath when added to Huntsville’s City Council.”
“As a resident of District 1, I want the rest of District 1’s residents to have quality representation like I strive to provide in my role as a union representative,” said Jared Legget, President of the Marshall Engineers and Scientists Association (MESA – IFPTE) Local 27. “As members of AFGE Local 1858, Michelle Watkins and Pat King know how quality representation can improve the environmental quality – physically and mentally – of one’s life. Since both candidates have received the North Alabama Area Labor Council’s endorsement, I will gladly cast my vote for Michelle Watkins and Pat King to represent Huntsville District 1.”
The NAALC also announced that it will have volunteer opportunities in support of the two candidates this upcoming weekend, recommending that those interested contact them through the North Alabama Area Labor Council Facebook page.
