HARTFORD, CT—Members of 32BJ SEIU today announced their endorsement of Dr. Saud Anwar and Tim Curtis for election in the 14th and 60th House Districts in the Connecticut General Assembly, respectively, covering the towns of Windsor, South Windsor, and Windsor Locks. They also announced the endorsement of Representative Russ Morin for re-election in the House 28th District, which includes the town of Wethersfield. The members endorsed all three candidates to help win a higher minimum wage and more full-time hours for Connecticut working people next year.
A candidate on both the Democratic Party and Working Families Party tickets, Dr. Anwar is the former mayor of South Windsor, where he helped the town attract new businesses (see the Hartford Courant), as well as a pulmonologist who has organized medical missions for disaster relief. In contrast, his opponent, current South Windsor Mayor Tom Delnicki, left the Republican town council after fellow Republicans noted his opposition to spending money to keep the town’s basic infrastructure in repair (See the South Windsor Patch).
Retired schoolteacher Tim Curtis, also endorsed by both the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party, has experience as Windsor’s Deputy Mayor and as a member of the Town Council, where he was credited with building bridges among council members. His opponent in this open race, Scott Storms, has stood with other Republican candidates to stress his intention to further the “re-alignment” of public sector jobs, a strategy that can weaken state services and cost working people their jobs.
As State Representative since 2007 and Deputy Majority Leader since 2013, Representative Russ Morin has always stood with working families, supporting measures that would further their economic advancement.
“Now more than ever, 32BJ members are focused on supporting progressive candidates who are committed to tackling issues that affect working people, including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and supporting more full-time work,” said 32BJ Connecticut District Assistant Supervisor Alberto Bernardez. “Representative Russ Morin has always expressed that commitment, earning our firm endorsement. Likewise, the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks and South Windsor would be greatly aided by electing Dr. Saud Anwar and Tim Curtis as their next representatives at the State House, and our membership proudly extends our endorsement to both candidates.”
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With more than 145,000 members in 11 states and Washington DC, including 4,500 in Connecticut, 32BJ is the largest building service workers union in the country