We have two candidates running for the position of Vice-President for Local 88:  Dierdre Mahoney-Clark and current vice-president, Grant Swanson.  Their candidate statements are presented here, unedited, in their entirety.  If you have questions for the candidates, please follow the links to their websites and get in touch with them.

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Deirdre Mahoney-Clark
Website: http://deirdre4vp.wordpress.com/

Dear Union Sisters and Brothers,

Deirdre Mahoney-Clark

I am actively involved in the business of the union through my role as a card carrying member, Chief Steward of Department of County Management and the newly formed Department of County Assets; the Multnomah Evolves Committee, Political Action Committee, Executive Board meetings, General Membership meetings, the AFSCME Council- 75 meetings and my daily interaction with other union members.

Because of these involvements, I will fulfill the role of Vice-President with a broad understanding of our shared needs, values and countywide issues. We have ten departments in the county and all need fair representation on the Local 88 cabinet.

I will assist the sitting President, Secretary and Treasurer with the business of the local using my training in communication, technology and activism. I will continue the communication links forged by our Member Action Team coordinator to keep our membership informed of important issues and bring feedback directly to the executive board and county leadership.

I am a moderate leader but I am a direct communicator when the situation calls for it. I believe in respecting the opinions of others and listening for their message when it differs from mine. I will advocate for our members and fight for equity in our worksites using all the spirit you would expect from a leader you have chosen.

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Grant Swanson
Website: http://grantforvp.yolasite.com/

Grant Swanson

We are living in interesting times, times of uncertainty but also times of opportunity to create a better tomorrow. We now face the challenge to “future-proof” our union since unrestrained financial institutions and corporations have left our community without good work prospects and safety nets. We are also faced with climate change, peak oil, and the constraints of the capped property tax and its effects on our workplace. As your current vice president, I have been working hard to meet these challenges and will continue to do so. I will continue to help Local 88’s members to elect the best candidates, regardless of party affiliation, for political posts throughout the Portland region, Oregon, and nationally. I will continue to help diversify the voices heard by union leadership, political leaders, and our County’s elected officials, to include everyone’s point of view, regardless of size, ability, race, age, sexual orientation, perceived class, or other social identities. I will continue to explore new union organizing strategies so we can build a broader union movement together. I will work toward localizing our economy by creating a Co-Op development fund. My vision is to use our money to support democratic workplaces instead of giving it to for-profit corporations, who are actively attacking public institutions and workers everywhere. I will reach out to the retired, soon to retire, and all current members of Local 88 and capture their “Living Histories” to better understand where we have been, who we are, and where we are going. I will work towards building a union that embraces participatory democracy by including every member’s views in decision-making and strive to continue this culture throughout our union. If this sounds like what you want your union leadership to be, please take the time to vote for me.