FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Martha McKenna, 410-528-8011
July 2, 2007 – On the day of the official filing deadline, a fourth major labor union has endorsed Mayor Sheila Dixon. The Maryland & DC State Council of Machinists announced its unanimous selection of Sheila Dixon for election to the position of Mayor of the City of Baltimore.
Passed unanimously during a June 23 meeting, the decision follows endorsements from the Maryland/DC State Council of SEIU, 1999 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the United Auto Workers. Mayor Dixon has received every union endorsement issued in this campaign.
The Machinists' union cited the mayor's track record and commitment to improving city neighborhoods as grounds for its endorsement. Said President John Jefferies, "From her first Executive Order -- encouraging businesses to hire Baltimore City residents first – to her recent success making the City cleaner and healthier, Mayor Dixon has the most complete vision for Baltimore. Her election will best serve the citizens of Baltimore."
In response to her most recent endorsement, Mayor Dixon said, "Together, we can do the hard work toward keeping Baltimore moving forward. Machinists know how each piece of machinery fits together to make an engine run - Baltimore is the same way -- we're all working together to get various pieces - our jobs and economy, our schools and our safety -- in sync so the engine of Baltimore runs stronger."
A lifelong West Baltimore resident, Mayor Dixon is an active member of the Bethel A.M.E. Church and numerous community boards. Before assuming her current role, the mayor worked as a public school kindergarten teacher and led the City Council as its distinguished first female African American president.
