By Staff
NILES – Judy Truesdell, Democratic state representative candidate for the 78th District, has received early key endorsements from the Electrical Workers Local 153, the United Steelworkers, District 2, AFL-CIO, the Construction Laborer's Local Union 355 and MI List, a statewide organization dedicated to electing Democratic women to key state and local offices.
A Jan. 31 press release issued by Electrical Workers Local 153 states, "The time for change in Michigan is now. Judy Truesdell is the kind of representative that will tear down the wall of partisanship and get the job done, not for self-promotion, not for party line, but for the citizens of southwestern Michigan."
Similarly, in a letter dated May 5 from Michael H. Bolton, director, USW District 2, AFL-CIO, "Our endorsement is given in recognition of your past support for Michigan's working families."
MI List endorses Truesdell "because she supports the personal and private decisions that contribute to strong and stable families," according to Director Barb Ryan Fuller. "Healthy families make for a motivated and resilient workforce essential to Michigan's economic rebound."
In response to these endorsements, Truesdell stated, "I am honored to be endorsed by these organizations. For decades, the men and women in our unions have worked hard to set working standards for ALL of us. After all, this led to the creation of our once great middle class. That is why I stand with them."
Bring back the middle class
On the heels of these endorsements, Truesdell unveiled her economic plan which clearly calls for the return of the once thriving middle class – "the backbone of our country," she says. "Urgent action is needed to improve the economy. Our middle class and working poor must no longer be squeezed by the essentials, including gas, health care, college costs and now even food.
"Someplace between budget- breaking entitlements and total self-reliance of individuals and working families, there are steps to bridge the gap so that we can focus our attention of attracting new companies and the jobs they can bring. But it is going to take a commitment of both sides to work together on finding solutions."
Truesdell believes that the district's educational institutions must play a front and center role in raising the state's economy.
"We must begin by treating our educational system as a valuable resource rather than a drain on our communities," she states.
Truesdell already has taken on a leadership role to bring the Niles School System and Cisco Systems together in a series of meetings to develop a community-wide collaboration for upgrading technology in Ring Lardner Middle School.
This collaborative effort would be similar to what already has been done at Oak Manor Sixth Grade School, which was recently named a technology showcase school.
According to Truesdell, upgrading middle schools is where the need is greatest.
Truesdell also feels strongly that with baby boomers now beginning to retire, workers replacing them will need to be well-skilled and educated for the health of our economy and community colleges will play a pivotal role.
To begin a process to offset an even greater shortage of workers with post-secondary education, Truesdell has taken a lead role in bringing together local unions and Lake Michigan College to discuss ways in which apprenticeship programs might be incorporated into the college curricula.
Truesdell believes that alliances around important community investments such as education can result in immediate positive effects for the community.
"Any new business considering this area is going to want to know if there is a quality workforce from which to recruit employees," she states.
Good-paying jobs with benefits will depend on our citizens having access to quality education and training.
"Michigan is at a crossroads. It is time to we work together to build an economy that brings back our disappearing middle class and a secure future for everyone."
Truesdell is the only Democratic candidate running for the seat occupied by Dowagiac's term-limited Rep. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda.
Four Republicans – Bill Baber of Berrien Springs, Bruce Hipshear of Buchanan, Sharon Tyler of Niles and Gary Campbell of Baroda – are seeking the GOP nomination in the Aug. 5 primary.
Truesdell believes that the demand of citizens is not for smaller government or bigger government but for BETTER government – one that changes the way we do business.
Voters are deeply worried about the economy.
The exodus of jobs and rising costs with stagnate incomes threaten middle-class families.
Families are being forced to spend large amounts of their budgets on both fuel and food.
Just buying enough gas to get to work is getting prohibitive for people in the 78th District.
"As the southwest gateway to our Great Lakes state, the good people of the 78th District deserve better in the way we are viewed. Our people deserve a representative who is not locked in partisan philosophy that leaves little room for compromise or innovation. I am that person – a candidate citizens can trust to stand with them and for them, as my economic plan shows."
Business is the engine that drives our economic success and building business partnerships and bringing together allied industries to build unconventional alliances – not around partisan politics or special interests, but around investments in education, jobs and the like – that produce results for middle-class families, not false hopes.
We will not make progress toward a better and higher standard of living so long as each of us advances our own interests without regard to the interests of anyone else or that of the community of which we are a part.
There is no magic bullet for improving the economy.
Someplace between budget- breaking entitlements and total self-reliance of individuals and working families, there are opportunities to bridge the gap while we work to for longer term investments. But there must be a willingness of both parties to work together on solutions.
Policies of the past may not necessarily be the solutions of the future. For too many of our citizens, high hopes have turned to deep concerns and anxiety about the future. Our workers have lost ground with the decline of wages and job security and a growing income gap is displacing our middle class.
We must develop a strategy that says come to Michigan, where the infrastructure is in place, the work ethic is solid and our education and workforce training system are turning out knowledgeable, creative and skilled graduates who will stick around if they can make a decent living.