Humboldt County Public Employees Union Endorses Steve Madrone for 5th District Supervisor

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Steve Madrone Stephen Sungnome Madrone

AFSCME Local 1684, the Humboldt County Public Employees Union, endorses Steve Madrone for Fifth District Supervisor. On behalf of our more than 1,200 members and working families across the County, we urge everyone to register and be ready to vote in this election. As everyone readies to cast their ballots, whether by mail or at the polls on June 5, the choices for the future of our County are stark.

Steve Madrone is the best choice for the Fifth District. Steve’s history is of collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders, creating economic growth while also protecting our natural environment. Steve has not accepted money from large businesses and is relying on small donors and labor organizations to assist in funding his campaign. He is not someone beholden to well-connected, monied interests.

While the cost of living is getting out-of-control, working families of this County deserve a strong voice to represent them. Steve Madrone is that candidate.

We encourage everyone in the Fifth District to vote Steve Madrone!

-Alythia Noland, President, AFSCME Local 1684

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22 Comments
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Corky Schoonmaker
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Corky Schoonmaker
5 years ago

Use to belong to AFSCME…….this is why I didn’t rejoin them when I went back to working for Hum. Co. They play politics more than they put the interests of the employee’s welfare. This is not the Union to listen to an endorsement from. If you actually vote by someone else’s opinion, instead of looking and discovering the agenda of the individual……..your wasting your vote.

DJ
Guest
DJ
5 years ago

I wish the idiots at afscme would stop endorsing political candidates and actually try to get something done for the people they are supposed to represent. They wrote this letter like they speak for all of us and they certainly do not. I wouldn’t vote for this person if he was the only candidate running.

Divide by Zero
Guest
Divide by Zero
5 years ago
Reply to  DJ

They won’t, and here’s why. Public employee unions are a front for political activism and have nothing to do with worker’s rights. Who do they negotiate with, other bureaucrats? Unions that negotiate with private-sector companies have a third, and all important, chair at the negotiating table. That empty chair is the market which tempers the avidity of either side. The producer knows without a reasonable wage, he or she won’t get the productivity and quality they require to compete. The worker knows that an excessive wage compromises his or her employers ability to compete. It’s the market that compels both side to reach a compromise. The bureaucracy has no such concerns; where commerce has the burden of convincing consumers (a choice) to give them money, the bureaucracy compels you to pay up by threat of confiscation or imprisonment. Think I’m over dramatizing? Try telling to IRS to pound sand, and see where you end up.

Your mom
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Your mom
5 years ago
Reply to  Divide by Zero

Over generalization. Blah blah blah. The 1800’s called and want their union views back

Divide by Zero
Guest
Divide by Zero
5 years ago
Reply to  Your mom

Dear Mom,

One liners and platitudes do not constitute a cogent response. Oh, and by the way, Blah, blah, blah is code for; I don’t possess the intellectual inventory to respond to your comment.

Your mom
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Your mom
5 years ago
Reply to  Divide by Zero

Neither do over generalizations or flippant union bashing Un-researched opinions. But that’s just my opinion 🙂

Divide by Zero
Guest
Divide by Zero
5 years ago
Reply to  Your mom

Again, I’d ask for a response to what I posted. What over generalization, what flippant union bashing or UN-researched opinion. No platitudes, but rather a response based in evidence and reason. Having a history of negotiation as a Union member of the Operating Engineers until I retired in 2006, I’d appreciate some clarity about my Union bashing ways. Here’s a quote from George Meany, former president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O; “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government.” Or from James Sherk, a Bradley fellow in labor policy; The founders of the labor movement viewed unions as a vehicle to get workers more of the profits they help create. Government workers, however, don’t generate profits. They merely negotiate for more tax money. When government unions strike, they strike against taxpayers. F.D.R. considered this “unthinkable and intolerable.”

Your mom
Guest
Your mom
5 years ago
Reply to  Divide by Zero

Simplifying public employee unions as political activism fronts is where you lost me. That is a generalization that is simply untrue locally. They endorsed this guy because he is on the side of the worker (I read their endorsement letter that we are commenting on) that I can get on board with. Quote away but it’s your words That solicited my commenting.

Divide by Zero
Guest
Divide by Zero
5 years ago
Reply to  Divide by Zero

Well Mom thank you for the 8:04 thoughtful response (no reply option in your comment box). I have a 45 year track record as a working stiff and proud of it. I too am on the side of the worker, and spent my share of time on the picket line. Our adversaries were rapacious employers and the goons that enforced their desires. I just don’t see that in the bureaucracy.

Your mom
Guest
Your mom
5 years ago

pretty sure if you don’t belong to AFSCME now you don’t know what they think. Just saying

Big Ol' Jar of Pickles
Guest
Big Ol' Jar of Pickles
5 years ago

Exactly!

I do not recommend his work
Guest
I do not recommend his work
5 years ago

Steve? he has gone by Sungnome Madrone for at least two decades. seriously think he took too much acid once.

Casual Observer
Guest
Casual Observer
5 years ago

I’m confused. Who’s Steve? Is he related to Sungnome, who’s worked in this area for years?

country bumpkin
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country bumpkin
5 years ago

Labor organizations are large businesses, especially public unions that seek to control their bosses (elected officials or bureaucrats) for their own gain as opposed to the public (taxpayers) interests.

Your mom
Guest
Your mom
5 years ago

LOL. Misinformed

Not A Troll
Guest
Not A Troll
5 years ago

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should vote their conscience. But as a member for over ten years I know afscme works hard for their members and everyone they represent. part of the issue is getting people elected that care about working families around here. saw the TS article yesterday and this board is spending near million bucks on out of town law firms…who gets that? is that any good?

if you ever heard Steve talk or know anything about his history he’ll have my vote. haven’t seen him on any private flights to Sac lately..afscme has this one right

Your mom
Guest
Your mom
5 years ago
Reply to  Not A Troll

This guy did his homework.

Monster
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Monster
5 years ago
Reply to  Not A Troll

Often times, county and city boards have to use out-of-town firms either at the discretion of who’s in charge of their insurance policy for liability or due to conflict issues.

Your mom
Guest
Your mom
5 years ago
Reply to  Monster

True, but is that the case here? The board of supervisors doesn’t have the best track record with picking lawyers lately. And aren’t they strong enough to negotiate on their own? Most people lawyer-up when they are guilty of something in my experience. Maybe that translates in their negotiation prowess.

c u 2morrow
Guest
c u 2morrow
5 years ago
Reply to  Your mom

Bazinga !

that’s the future
Guest
that’s the future
5 years ago
Reply to  Not A Troll

if you actually know “steve” he has gone by the name of sungnome for at least two decades. he is a fly blown wannabe restoration engineer with no degree.

at a loss
Guest
at a loss
5 years ago

If he’s so great and has done so much why does Westhaven where he live look like a shithole, has no businesses besides growers, and the try to pass themselves as part of Trinidad. I am unaware of anything he has done to improve things. Just another misplaced hippie.