IFPTE Endorses Connie Chan for Congress

“Connie is the rare elected official who remains rock solid in her values”

Connie Chan at her congressional campaign kickoff (Photo credit: Yujie Zhou)

WASHINGTON, DC – On behalf of its 90,000 members throughout North America, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) is proud to endorse Connie Chan for the United States House of Representatives. The International and IFPTE Local 21 leaders, representing over 11,000 professional, supervisory, and managerial government employees in major jurisdictions throughout the Bay Area, offered the following comments:

Bianca Polovina, IFPTE Local 21 President, they/them pronouns:
“Connie Chan is the consummate champion for working families, unions, and everyday regular San Franciscans. A former IFPTE Local 21 member herself, Connie is the rare elected official who remains rock solid in her values that the government should work for the people; that billionaires should pay their fair share in taxes to rebuild our safety net; and that unions are essential to America’s success—and she delivers results accordingly.  

“Connie Chan has beat the billionaire class in multiple municipal elections, and with the support of IFPTE, our San Francisco Central Labor Council, and the California State Labor Federation, she can do it again. There is no one better suited to stand up for San Francisco and help rebuild Congress and our country than Connie Chan.”
  

Julian Ware, IFPTE Western Area Vice President, IFPTE Local 21 Oakland Vice President:
“In this time when the federal administration is targeting organized labor, working families, immigrants, and so many more of our communities, it is critical that we send a fighter to Congress who continues to uphold our San Francisco values as Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has done for decades.  

“As an immigrant who grew up with her single mom and brother in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco's Chinatown, a working mom, and a former IFPTE member, Connie Chan will fight with us because she is one of us.”
 

Frances Hsieh, IFPTE Western Area Vice President, IFPTE Local 21 Vice President of Legislative and Political Action:
“Connie Chan is the number one choice of organized labor and San Francisco’s working families because she stands with us, time and time again. When our members were facing layoffs while city services were being contracted out to private entities, Connie fought back. As chair of the Budget Committee, she saved critical jobs and services, not just for our members, but for working people across the city. 

“Connie may not have support from corporations and the billionaire class, and she doesn’t have millions in personal wealth to buy this election, but what she does have is people power. Because when you stand with us, we stand with you. And when we fight, we win.” 

IFPTE’s Executive Officers also weighed-in to support Connie Chan, with President Matt Biggs calling her, “a champion for working families who will bring her Union card with her to the United States House of Representatives,” and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson saying that, “Connie Chan’s background and experience in the public arena fighting and winning against the billionaire class is much needed in Congress, and IFPTE is proud to endorse her.” 

Chan is running for California’s 11th Congressional District, which covers nearly the entirety of San Francisco and has been represented by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi since 1987.  If elected, she will be the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in the House of Representatives. 

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Download IFPTE’s endorsement here