Balto. Co. police union endorses Bartenfelder
Baltimore County executive candidate Joseph Bartenfelder won the last of the major county labor endorsements Monday night, as the union representing 1,900 police officers voted unanimously to support him in his race for the Democratic nomination with fellow veteran County Council member, Kevin Kamenetz.
Sgt. Cole Weston, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 4, said more than 100 members gathered at the union's headquarters Monday night to back Bartenfelder, who has already won the endorsements of the Baltimore County Professional Firefighters Association and the Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO, representing more than 180 separate locals. Kamenetz is supported by the Teachers Association of Baltimore County and the Laborers International Union of North America.
"Through Joe's tenure, he's established himself professionally and personally with a number of our members in issues that are important to us," said Weston.
He specifically mentioned votes the council took in the spring of 2008 on provisions of the police contract that had already been approved under binding arbitration. Of the 14 items submitted separately to the council, Bartenfelder voted for 13, Kamenetz for 7.
Weston said those votes were not the only reason for the decision, but "it was certainly a part of it. Legislative history is a part of the consideration."
Both Bartenfelder and Kamenetz have served on the council since 1994.
Weston said the endorsements meant not only financial support, but volunteers to hand out literature, plant campaign signs and work the polls on primary day, Sept. 14. The union represents officers up to the level of lieutenant, as well as about 900 retirees.
Bartenfelder, who has raised about $800,000 to Kamenetz's $1.4 million, has been hoping that the labor endorsements will help him stay competitive with his opponent.
Kenneth C. Holt, the lone Republican in the race, and a third Democrat, Ronald E. Harvey, have received no public labor endorsements.
-Arthur Hirsch
Comments
They represent over 1,900 police, but only "more than 100" (which we presume means less than 200) showed up to vote on the endorsement?
I take a couple of things from that:
1) The majority of FOP members don't actually give a flop who the county executive is, which says something about the endorsement;
2) The FOP endorsement isn't all its made out to be, which says something about the endorsement;
3) The FOP as a union isn't really as strong and motivated as it could be, which is good for democracy in the county.
Posted by: Gunpowder Chronicle | August 24, 2010 12:46 PM
GPC
I'm not certain that the `100` figure correlates to those that voted, only those at the gathering on Monday.
Monday evening may have just been a tally for an all day or weekend of voting.
I'm just guessing.
Posted by: wr250x | August 24, 2010 2:38 PM
The FOP endorsement is an important one. Contrary to CPC, Members of the FOP do care about who the next Executive is. Members who turned out last night were excited about the process & pleased with the outcome.
Posted by: JLG 21237 | August 24, 2010 6:15 PM
Sound like a perfect reason to vote against him. Unions are wrecking everything the touch.
Posted by: Neil B. | August 27, 2010 7:32 PM
Hey GPC -- do you want your cops to be in a union meeting, or out on the street?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Posted by: DOING THEIR JOBS | August 27, 2010 10:40 PM