The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees shone its spotlight on politics May 17, illuminating the positions of the nine Democratic presidential candidates at a town hall meeting with union members in Des Moines, Iowa.

“With this event, we begin the process by which our union will make its endorsement decision, a participatory process that will involve membership meetings across the country, focus groups, a national membership poll and much more,” said Gerald W. McEntee, president of AFSCME, DC 37’s parent union.

The nine presidential hopefuls who look to replace Republican incumbent George W. Bush in the 2004 election came to Iowa for AFSCME’s “Take Back America” political campaign.

The candidates faced an enthusiastic, involved audience of almost 1,000 members from councils across the country. As moderator, Mr. McEntee often posed follow-up questions, prompting candidates to move beyond simplistic replies. AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy urged candidates to continue to “fight the enemy, not each other.”

Seven candidates made in-person presentations: U.S. Sens. John Edwards (N.C.) and Bob Graham (Fla.), former Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (Ill.), U.S. Reps. Richard Gephardt (Mo.) and Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), former Gov. Howard Dean (Vt.) and the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York. Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) participated by live satellite feed, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.) provided a videotaped interview.

After a brief introduction from each candidate, members queried them on issues such as homeland security, health care, workplace justice and the right to organize, corporate accountability and the nation’s economy. The candidates distinguished their positions from President Bush, whose focus remains on tax cuts for the wealthy few and not on the plight of working families.

Asking questions on behalf of the entire union were New York City EMT Joseph Conzo of DC 37 Local 2507, University of California custodial worker Patricia Segrest, Minnesota probation officer Patrick Guernsey, Texas retiree Eunice Parrish, Pennsylvania clerical worker Shirley Stuttler and Milwaukee bus driver Annette Berry. AFSCME represents 1.1 million municipal workers. After the candidates left, the session became union-only. A long procession of members stepped up to floor microphones and spoke their minds on the candidates, the issues and the 2004 election.

District Council 37 PAC Chair Leonard Allen and eight officers from Locals 371, 375 and 420 attended the weekend event. “We all were energized by process,” Mr. Allen said. “It was truly inclusive. We were able to understand the hopes and issues faced by each council in AFSCME and to see which candidate would best support our agenda.”

— Diane S. Williams