"They say 'cut back!'  We say 'Fight Back!"

That was the battle cry voiced by SEIU Arizona members from all over the state March 13 as we gathered in Phoenix to decide which candidates for statewide office are ready to change Arizona for the better.

Two days after the legislature approved a 2011 budget that slashes funding for health care, education, "safety net" programs for the poor - and which cuts pay for state employees - an enthusiastic crowd of SEIU members made it clear that we are ready to do whatever it takes to elect leaders who value and respect public employees and the vital services they provide.

"The value of a voice is about making changes where we need to make these changes," said Sonia Debride, a state member who works for the Dept. of Economic Security's Division of Developmental Disabilities.  "And endorsing candidates who will help us make these changes is how we use our voice, too."

And so SEIU members from our chapters in Pima County, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and State members from Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Prescott, Phoenix and elsewhere got down to work.

All candidates for governor were invited to attend the endorsement event but only one took the time to show up and share his views on the future of Arizona - Attorney General Terry Goddard.  SEIU members also heard from candidates for Secretary of State (Sam Wercinski and Chris Deschene), Attorney General (Felecia Rotellini, David Lujan and Vince Rabago), Corporation Commission (Jorge Garcia and David Bradley) and Superintendent of Public Instruction (Penny Kotterman). 

All were well-received by SEIU members who then went into caucus groups to talk about the candidates and consider which ones deserve not only our support but our active participation in working to elect them in 2010.

The SEIU Arizona Endorsement Committee, made up of representatives from each chapter, then met away from the hall to discuss the caucus choices and make recommendations about whom SEIU will endorse.

The committee returned to the hall.  "We are going to recommend a full, 100 percent endorsement of Terry Goddard for governor!" said Mariana Sandoval, a member of the Endorsement Committee.  A sea of hands were raised to ratify the recommendation and that was followed by cheers and applause as Terry Goddard re-entered the room.

"Thank you for this endorsement, it means a lot to me," said the candidate.  "But it's just the start.  We've got a huge job to do between now and November.  And we'll be depending on everyone in this room and the thousands you represent outside of this room to carry the word throughout the state of Arizona.  We can change this place."

SEIU Arizona is also proud to endorse SEIU member Andrei Cherny for State Treasurer, Penny Kotterman for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Jorge Garcia and David Bradley for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

SEIU members liked all of the candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State and decided to hold off on an immediate endorsement.

Top Photo:  SEIU members at Endorsement event in Phoenix. (Lynn Ott photo)

Lower Photo:  Attorney General Terry Goddard and members of the SEIU Arizona Endorsement Committee.  (Lynn Ott Photo)

Paid for by Arizona Families United for Strong Communities - Project of SEIU COPE, major funding by Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education, 800-424-8592