Mike Smiddy (38), candidate for State Representative in Illinois' 71st District received an enormous boost in his bid to become the democratic nominee when on Thursday he received the endorsements of the Northwest Illinois Building Trades and the Illinois AFL-CIO. The Northwest Illinois Building Trades represents unions in Whiteside County the northern part of the 71st District while the Illinois AFL-CIO represents 1,500 local unions and nearly one million union members throughout the State of Illinois.
"Growing up in a middle class family and being the son of a UAW retiree I am extremely proud to have received these organizations support. It is the hard work of organized labor that created the middle class in America and I plan to be a voice in the Illinois Legislature for those values and Ideals."
Smiddy, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local #46 at the East Moline Correctional Center believes that each generation is suppose to do better than the previous one. If Illinois continues down its current path, our children and grandchildren may not be able to reach their potential because of our failures.
"We must demand more from our elected officials. Being able to believe in the American Dream that we can achieve our goals by hard work and dedication is what our communities were built on. Illinoisans need to be able to trust those that they elect and send to Springfield. Citizens need to have the confidence that the decisions that are being made by our leaders are done for the right reasons."
Since announcing his candidacy back in September, Smiddy has also received endorsements from the following organizations:
Laborers Local #309 (Rock Island)
The Quad City Federation of Labor
The Tri-City Building Trades
The Great Plains Laborer's District Council (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana)
Rock Island Firefighters Association Local #26
Illinois AFL-CIO
Northwest Illinois Building Trades
Quad City - Illinois UAW CAP Council Endorsement Recommendation
