This post is part of The Upd8, the Midweek Wire’s new blog devoted entirely to coverage of Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district. Tweet the author @tzbordelon
Kevin Strouse announced today in an exclusive to the Upd8 an endorsement by the president of the local Merck Independent Employees’ Union, Dottie Miller. The local union represents 287 members in Southeast Pennsylvania and is a recent member of the Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU).
Miller said that her endorsement was, in part, related to Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick’s votes during the government shutdown that rocked the country in October.
“There is a stark contrast between Kevin’s focus on solving problems and Congressman Fitzpatrick’s reckless votes for the shutdown and sequester that cost our region jobs and took a toll on the local economy in Bucks and Montgomery counties,” MIller said in a press release from Strouse’s campaign.
She added that Strouse’s record of service with the Army Rangers in Iraq and Afghanistan and his CIA officership were also factors in her endorsement.
“Kevin Strouse will go to Congress to create jobs and fight for the middle class,” Miller said.
Strouse has been endorsed by the American Postal Workers Union Local 7048, the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 5, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 3, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Practitioners and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776.
“The hard-working men and women of OPEIU Local 1937 help drive economic and technological progress in Southeast Pennsylvania,” Strouse said
Before taking on Fitzpatrick in November, Strouse needs to defeat publisher and former breast cancer researcher Shaughnessy Naughton in the Democratic primary in May.
