This morning, Darden Rice received a key endorsement from the Tampa Bay’s largest labor union in her bid for St. Pete City Council District 4.
West Central Florida Federation of Labor (WCFFL/AFL-CIO) represents over 100,000 active and retired members from 116 unions in the Tampa Bay area. The WCFFL covers the 13 counties in the full Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
“We have endorsed Darden Rice based on her record of community advocacy and her record of supporting working families,” says WCFFL Executive Director Cheryl Schroeder. “St. Petersburg needs a leader who will grow our city to benefit its people—not on their backs.”
With help from the WCFFL, Rice’s platform—St. Pete Strong—gets strong organizing and volunteer support. This backing comes on the heels of other high profile endorsements from U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor and former Governor Charlie Crist, as well as union endorsements from the Sun Coast PBA and the Florida SEIU.
With powerful voices lining up behind Rice, there is little doubt her position with St. Petersburg voters will increase. In the June 1 StPetePolls survey for SaintPeterBlog, Rice leads the three-way matchup with Carolyn Fries and David McKalip. In a poll of 301 registered City of St. Petersburg voters, Rice receives 25.5 percent, with McKalip following with 17.1 percent, Fries in third with 15 points and 42.5 percent undecided.
Rice entered the race in mid-March for the District 4 seat currently held by the termed-out Leslie Curran.
“I am honored and grateful to have the support of the West Central Florida Federation of Labor and the locals that they represent,” Rice says. “The voice of working people has been marginalized for too long. It is time for our City to hear their voice again if we are to stay strong.”
The St. Petersburg primary election is August 27. Two candidates with the most votes face each other in the citywide Nov. 5 general election.
