Dedicated to Union and Public Service
Anyone who has run for public office in the last thirty years has heard the late Speaker of the House, “Tip” O’Neill, Jr.’s famous line time and again, “All politics is local.” While the phrase itself is linked as closely to O’Neill as “Bully!” is to Teddy Roosevelt, it was actually O’Neill’s father, Thomas, Sr., a union bricklayer and former city councilman, who first passed on the advice when young Tip narrowly lost a city council race after failing to campaign in his own neighborhood.
While a great deal of focus is justifiably given to state and national elections, there are many BAC members who have found great purpose in representing their neighbors and working families as elected and appointed members of local governing bodies. If you think about it – who better to convey the priorities of working families to a city council or school board than a BAC member? BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano agrees. “Electing ‘our own’ is one of the most effective ways we have to ensure that the issues our members and family face every day are being addressed,” says Scarano.
The Journal is proud to recognize the BAC Local Union leaders featured in this issue for their determination and hard work on behalf of their members, their Locals, and their communities. Also deserving of acknowledgement are their supportive Locals and principal officers – the Northern Ohio Administrative District Council and Director Robert Fozio, and Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware and President John Phillips.
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Northern Ohio Administrative District Council Field Representatives Dave Wondolowski, left, and Ken Kudela are both longtime political activists.
Elected to his first term in November 2005, Dave is one of nine Broadview Heights, OH City Council members. As Ward 1 Representative on the Council, Dave, a 13-year member of Local 5 OH, is able to bring his masonry experience and Union background to the Council’s deliberations on a range of economic development issues including building a stronger tax base and more stringent building codes.
Ken is in the third of a four-year term as a member of the Firelands Schools’ Board of Education. A member of Local 16 OH since 1988, Ken’s informed comments on safe contracting practices and construction knowledge have raised his credibility when such matters are before the Board.
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Field Representatives Tim Sheldon, left, and Mike Wenzel, right, both of Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware, may hold elected office in different states but the fraternal support of their fellow officers and members is not geographic-specific.
Tim was elected to New Castle County as a councilman in 2005. Given the long list of volunteer leadership positions he has held with groups such as United Way of Delaware and the Western YMCA to name only a few, entering public service was a natural progression for the 21-year member who likes to get things done.
Mike, a member of the Pottstown Borough Council and a 28-year member of Local 1, was also elected in 2005. What motivated him to seek elected office? “The IU kept encouraging Local leaders to run and I just felt it was the right time.”
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