One strOng united vOice

fOr MinnesOta wOrkers

American Federation of State, County and Municipal

Employees, AFL-CIO

2A: Roger Erickson

27A: Shannon Savick

5B: Tom Anzelc

42A: Barb Yarusso

10A: John Ward

43A: Peter Fischer

10B: Joe Radinovich

48A: Yvonne Selcer

14B: Zach Dorholt

49B: Paul Rosenthal

17A: Andrew Falk

51A: Sandra Masin

17B: Mary Sawatzky

56B: Will Morgan

volume 9, no. 6 2014 voters guide

321Re-elect a DFL majority in the Legislature.

3-Step Plan for Progress

Vote ! Election Day is Nov. 4.

Re-elect Gov. Mark Dayton.

KEEP PRoGRESS

GoiNG“Our very existence as union members

depends on us re-electing Gov. Dayton

this November. Our future is up to us.”

– Council 5 president Judy Wahlberg

These legislators can continue to prevent Minnesota from becoming another Wisconsin. They need your support now – and your vote Nov. 4.

2 • S t e p p i n g U p • 2 0 14 V Ot e R S g U i D e • www.afscmemn.org

What progress looks like•Contracts with

pay raises and steps

•New funding for preschool scholarships

•Statewide funding for all-day kindergarten

•A higher minimum wage, indexed toinflation

•Equal pay for women•Fair taxes so the richest

2 percent pay their share•Marriage equality•More state aid to boost city,

county, and college budgets•Middle-class property tax relief•A budget balanced without

gimmicks

2014 vOters guide

Results that deliver for middle-class familiesAfter DFL majorities took control of the Minnesota Legislature in 2013, their priorities drove down residential property taxes after a decade of uncontrollable increases.

Average property tax decrease in Minnesota, 2014

Average property tax increase in Minnesota, 2002-201387%

16.4%

Source: Minnesota 2020, “Delivering Dollars: 2014 Homeowner Property Tax Report” (released September 2014); using constant dollars

Any wAy you MeAsure It

T eaPartycandidateJeffJohnsonvowsthat–ifhe’selectedgovernor–he’ll“go all Scott Walker on Minnesota.” In

fact, Johnson admires Wisconsin so much that he’sevenusingBadgerredandwhiteashiscampaign colors.

For public employees in Minnesota, Johnson is a disaster waiting to happen, warn AFSCME members in Wisconsin. “Anybody who’s looking up to Scott Walker is the last thing you want to see in your state,” says Paul Spink, of Local 2748 at Wisconsin’s DepartmentofSocialServices.“Youdonotwant to become Wisconsin.”

Workers take a direct hit

BoydMcCamishechoesSpink’swarning.McCamishisexecutivedirectorofAFSCMECouncil 48 in Milwaukee County. He has witnessedfirsthandhowWalker’spoliciesdecimated his union, his members’ standard ofliving,andhismembers’rightsonthejob.

“We should be under no illusion,” McCamish says. “They’re coming for you. They are comingforeverything.”HerearefourthingsMinnesota’s public employees risk if they let TeaPartycandidateswinthegovernor’sofficeor take control of the Legislature, McCamish says:•Wisconsin’s public employees took a

20 percent cut in take-home pay. “My personal paycheck runs about $200 less everytwoweeks,”saysNancyAnderson,ofLocal 426 at the Milwaukee Public Library. Wisconsin members must pay more out

of pocket for their health-insurance and retirement plans. They cannot negotiate any pay raises that exceed the rate of inflation.Theycannotnegotiateatalloverhealth insurance, safety issues, scheduling, vacations,orsickleave.

•AFSCME had 66,000 members in Wisconsin before Walker rammed his infamous Act 10 through that state’s Republican Legislature. Four years later, AFSCME now has only 22,000 members in Wisconsin. The union lost two-thirds of its members and most of its power.

•AFSCMEmembershavebeensilencedandtargetedonthejob.“Therelentlessassaultonourvoiceshasbeenastounding,”McCamish says. “It’s amazing what happens tothebosswhentheydon’thavetotalktoyou.”

•Dues deduction becomes illegal. That prohibitioncripplesunionsfinancially.

Collective bargaining vanishes

The simplest way to describe what “all Scott Walker”meansis:“Collectivebargainingbecomes illegal,” McCamish says.

Whenmeaningfulcollectivebargaining

Don’t let it happen hereAFSCME members in Wisconsin warn us: Our rights at work and standard of living can disappear in a hurry

“I need you to remember

what it was like to

work with a Republican

governor or a Republican

Legislature. And I need

you to vow not to let that

happen again.”

– Gov. Mark Dayton

Illu

stra

tio

n b

ased

on

a c

on

cep

t b

y Fr

anci

s O

wen

Making a statementTaking a stand

An act of rebellion

Sending a message

When you skip voting,It is not

It is surrender

www.afscmemn.org • 2 0 1 4 V Ot e R S g U i D e • S t e p p i n g U p • 3

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: Which future do you prefer?

Under Gov. Dayton, Minnesota is outperforming Wisconsin in jobs, quality of life, economic growth, and progress

Progressive leadership

Tax the rich

Increased education funding by $735 million. Made larger state investments in preschool scholarships, all-day kindergarten, K-12, and higher education. Paid back all $2.1 billion that previous Legislatures “borrowed” from schools statewide

Expanded collective bargaining for public employees

56,000 AFSCME members

Higher median household income: $60,702 1

Incomes increased 1.6% last year 1

Lower unemployment rate: 4.3% 2

181,300 new jobs since January 2011 3

Raised minimum wage to $8/hour

3rd best state to make a living 4

8th best state to do business 5

State budget surplus of $2.6 billion 6

Tea Party leadership

Tax breaks for the rich

Cut more than $2 billion in state funding from K-12 and higher education

Outlawed collective bargaining for most public employees

22,000 AFSCME members (down from 66,000)

Lower median household income: $51,4671

Incomes decreased 0.4% last year 1

Higher unemployment rate: 5.6% 2

122,400 new jobs since January 2011 3

Froze minimum wage at $7.25/hour

24th best state to make a living 4

9th worst state to do business 5

State budget deficit of $1.8 billion 7

Mark Dayton’s Minnesota Scott Walker’s Wisconsin

1U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Briefs: “Household Income 2013” (released Sept. 2014) 2U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Regional and State Employment and Unemployment” Aug. 2014 (released Sept. 2014) 3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Regional and State Employment and Unemployment,” Feb. 2011 (released March 2011) and Aug. 2014 (released Sept. 2014) 4MoneyRates.Com, “Best and Worst States to Make a Living 2014” (released June 2014) 5Forbes, “Best States for Business” (released Sept. 2013) 6Minnesota Management and Budget, “Budget and Economic Forecast” for FY 2016-2017 7Associated Press, “Wisconsin projected budget shortfall grows to $1.8 billion” (Sept. 8, 2014)

Wisconsin’s Boyd McCamish tells Council 5 convention delegates his grim reality.

disappears,“justcause”disappearsincasesofdiscipline or discharge. Seniority disappears. Havingasayinworkingconditionsdisappears.

The end result, McCamish says: “If you can’t get a contract, you can’t collect dues, you can’t go on strike, what can you do? Not much.”

“Don’t be complacent,” warns Denise Ehren, a Walworth County worker in Local 1131.

ArlynHalvorson,ofLocal65inDaneCounty,puts it this way: “If you don’t stand up now, the consequences later are going to be much worse.”

4 • S t e p p i n g U p • 2 0 14 V Ot e R S g U i D e • www.afscmemn.org

EnDoRSED c andidates

AFSCME Council 5 is a union of 43,000 workers who provide the vital services that make Minnesota happen. We advocate for excellence in public services, dignity in the workplace, and prosperity and opportunity

for all workers.

Judy Wahlberg, PresidentEliot Seide, Executive Director

Published by AFSCME Minnesota, AFL-CIO 300 Hardman Ave. S

South Saint Paul, MN 55075-2469

Design: Triangle Park CreativePrinting: 7 Corners PrintingMailing: Accurate Mailing

Stepping Up is published six times yearly: January/February, March/April,

May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December, plus this Voters Guide in even-numbered years.

Subscription price $1 per copy; $5 per year

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Stepping Up

300 Hardman Ave. S, South Saint Paul, MN 55075-2469

Periodicals postage paid at Saint Paul, MN Publication No. 352180

For the most up-to-date list of AFSCME’s PEOPLE-endorsed candidates (including forlocaloffices),goto:afscmemn.org. Under the “Political” tab, click “AFSCME Election Endorsements.”Betteryet: Scan this QR code into your mobile device.Thencallupthelist as a reference when youvote.

Election Day basics•Election Day is TuesdayNov.4

•Polling places are open from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Voting informationGo to www.mnvotes.orgforofficialinformation about:•How to register•Whereyouvote•Who is on the ballot whereyoulive

•Howtovoteabsentee

RegistrationIf you are not already registeredtovotewhereyoulive,youcanregister at your polling place–andvote–onElection Day. For details onwhatidentificationandverificationyouneedtoprovide,goto www.mnvotes.org. Click “Register to Vote,” click “More Registration Information,” then click “Register on Election Day.”

Absentee votingYoucanvotebeforeElection Day – no excuses needed – by mail or in person. To learn how, go to www.mnvotes.org. Click “Vote Early by Absentee,” then click the link that applies to you.

BeforeNov.4,youcanvoteabsenteeatyourlocalelectionofficeduring normal weekday hours; on Saturday Nov.1from10a.m.to3 p.m.; or on Monday Nov.3until5p.m.

TWin CiTiES METRoMinnesota Legislature32A: Paul Gammel32B: Laurie Warner34B: David Holden35A: Peter Perovich36A: Jefferson Fietek36B: Melissa Hortman37A: Jerry Newton37B: Sue Witt38A: Pat Davern38B: Greg Pariseau39B: Tom DeGree40A: Mike Nelson40B: Deb Hilstrom41A: Connie Bernardy41B: Carolyn Laine42A: Barb Yarusso42B: Jason Isaacson43A: Peter Fischer43B: Leon Lillie44B: Jon Applebaum45A: Lyndon Carlson

45B: Mike Freiberg46A: Ryan Winkler46B: Cheryl Youakim48A: Yvonne Selcer49A: Ron Erhardt49B: Paul Rosenthal50A: Linda Slocum50B: Ann Lenczewski51A: Sandy Masin51B: Laurie Halverson52A: Rick Hansen52B: Joe Atkins53A: JoAnn Ward53B: Kay Hendrickson54A: Dan Schoen54B: Don Slaten56B: Will Morgan57A: Bruce Folken58A: Amy Willingham59A: Joe Mullery59B: Raymond Dehn60A: Diane Loeffler60B: Phyllis Kahn

61A: Frank Hornstein61B: Paul Thissen62A: Karen Clark62B: Susan Allen63A: Jim Davnie63B: Jean Wagenius64A: Erin Murphy64B: Dave Pinto65A: Rena Moran65B: Carlos Mariani66A: Alice Hausman66B: John Lesch67A: Tim Mahoney67B: Sheldon Johnson

Congress4: Betty McCollum5: Keith Ellison8: Rick Nolan

Hennepin County Board2: Linda Higgins3: Marion Greene4: Peter McLaughlin

Minneapolis school BoardAt large: Iris Altamirano1: Jenny Arneson5: Nelson Inz

ramsey County Board3: Janice Rettman4: Toni Carter5: Rafael Ortega6: Jim McDonough

Metro

ramsey County AttorneyJohn Choi

ramsey County sheriffMatt Bostrom

richfield City CouncilAt large: Mike Howard

washington County Board2: Ted Bearth4: Karla Bigham

west st. Paul MayorJohn Zanmiller

SouThERn & WESTERn MinnESoTAMinnesota Legislature4A: Ben Lien4B: Paul Marquart13A: Emily Jensen14A: Dan

Wolgamott14B: Zach Dorholt17A: Andrew Falk

17B: Mary Sawatzky19A: Clark Johnson19B: Jack Considine20B: David Bly21A: Lynn Schoen24A: Bev Cashman24B: Patti Fritz27A: Shannon

Savick

27B: Jeanne Poppe

Congress1: Tim Walz7: Colin Peterson

Mankato City CouncilKaren Foreman

noRThERn MinnESoTAMinnesota Legislature1A: Bruce Patterson1B: Eric Bergerson2A; Roger Erickson2B: David Sobieski3B: Mary Murphy

5A: John Persell5B: Tom Anzelc6A: Carly Melin6B: Jason Metsa7A: Jennifer Schultz7B: Erik Simonson9A: Dan Bye

9B: Al Doty10A: John Ward10B: Joe Radinovich11A: Mike Sundin15A: James

Rittenour15B: Brian Johnson

Congress7: Collin Peterson8: Rick Nolan

st. Louis County Board1: Frank Jewell4: Tom Rukavina

North

South& West

Governor Mark Dayton

U.S. Senator Al Franken

Secretary of State Steve Simon

State Auditor Rebecca Otto

Congress District 8: Rick Nolan