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The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee has not endorsed any candidate in this race.


 

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

November 1, 2017
Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348
Maclen Zilber, (510) 508-9142
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies
SEIU CALIFORNIA ENDORSES ED HERNANDEZ FOR LT. GOVERNOR

 

700,000 Member Strong SEIU California State Council Picks Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez for Lieutenant Governor

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — Underscoring his deep commitment to the labor movement and fighting for working families, today State Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez’ campaign for California Lieutenant Governor was endorsed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council.

Comprised of 700,000 members across the state, from healthcare workers and nurses to security guards, long term care workers, school employees and local and state government employees, among scores of others, the SEIU California State Council is the largest union in the state of California.

In making their endorsement public, Bob Schoonover, SEIU Local 721 President released the following statement:

“California’s working families need a proven champion in their next Lieutenant Governor. That’s why SEIU California State Council is proud to endorse Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez. He’s got an unmatched record of fighting for our members and the labor movement, and we know we can count on him to continue leading the charge for higher wages, universal healthcare, good benefits and a fair, growing and thriving middle class economy as our next Lieutenant Governor. From fighting against Big Pharma to address sky-high drug pricing and Big Tobacco to raise California’s smoking age to 21, to creating jobs and raising the state’s minimum wage, Ed Hernandez has been a bold and effective leader for working people. We look forward to doing everything we can to ensure he becomes California’s next Lieutenant Governor.”

Also noting the high-powered endorsement, Wynona Spears, SEIU-UHW Executive Board Member and Licensed Vocational Nurse from Kaiser-Downey, remarked:

“We take great care in making decisions about who to support in statewide races like Lieutenant Governor of California. It’s why Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez’ unique background and experience stood out to SEIU members like me. He’s been on the forefront of the battle for stronger workers’ rights laws and has supported progressive policies like healthcare for all. Senator Hernandez has stood in solidarity with SEIU and that’s why SEIU is excited to stand in solidarity with him.”

Over 700,000 Californians make up SEIU in California. Their members work throughout the state, in all 58 counties, and they represent California in all of its diversity. SEIU members are social workers, nurses, classroom aides, state workers, security officers, college professors, home care workers, janitors, and more. They work in four primary areas: healthcare, long-term care, public services (both state workers and local), and building services.

To date, Senator Hernandez has won endorsements from over 50 organizations that represent working women and men, including the California Teachers Association just last week.

Significantly, just weeks ago, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez’ groundbreaking drug transparency bill, SB-17, into law.  Senator Hernandez’ latest digital video ad, titled, “Life or Death,” features a moving testimonial from Kendall Renee, who is allergic to more than 95% of foods and carries at least four EpiPens with her at all times. Renee highlights Senator Hernandez’ efforts to combat skyrocketing drug costs in the ad.

To view Hernandez’ “Life or Death” spot, click on the screen shot below:


Unshaken by big moneyed special interests, Hernandez not only has taken on Big Pharma but also fought Big Tobacco, as the architect of California’s landmark law to raise the state’s smoking age to 21.

In addition to today’s news, Senator Hernandez has raised over $2 million for the statewide effort and has locked in far-reaching support across California.
To view Senator Hernandez’ “Record of Progress,” digital video ad, click here or on the screen shot below.

 

Several months back, Senator Hernandez released his first digital video, titled  “A California Story,” which can be viewed by clicking on the screen image below:

 

 

Beyond today’s announcement, Senator Dr. Hernandez’ campaign has released an expansive list of over 400 endorsements from grassroots activists, community leaders, federal, state and local elected officials, public safety groups and over 50 labor unions.

A husband, father, grandfather, practicing optometrist, and local businessman, “Dr. Ed” (as he is known to his patients) has spent his life bringing quality eye care to predominantly low-income communities.  As a health care provider, the need to improve access to health care for all Californians is what first drove him to run for office.

Since being elected to the Assembly in 2006 and the Senate in 2010, Dr. Ed Hernandez has been a leader on the implementation of federal health care reform – helping expand access to affordable health care, control costs, and improve the network of providers so people can actually get quality care when they need it. Dr. Ed has been a champion by expanding educational opportunity to qualified students overlooked by our public schools and universities, as well as a major proponent for government reform, including fixing a broken initiative system too often hijacked by billionaires and wealthy corporations. Dr. Ed Hernandez is running to take this experience, leadership, and vision to the next level by serving the people of California as their Lieutenant Governor.

For more information, please visit www.edhernandez4ca.com.

*Titles for Identification Purposes Only.

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