Political Team in Place to Help Elect Politicians Accountable to Working Families

Washington, D.C. - As the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) gears up for the 2010 Federal, Gubernatorial and state legislative elections, the organization today announced additional staff to help elect politicians accountable to working families. The changes will help SEIU build on the union's highly effective political operations in the 2008 elections, as most recently reported by the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder (http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/seius_data_footprint_in_2008.php).

From the halls of state legislatures to those in Congress, SEIU members are doing more than ever before to elect candidates who will stand with working families to rebuild the American Dream. Together, we'll pass quality affordable healthcare reform, ensure workers have a strong voice in the workplace, pass comprehensive immigration reform and ensure a balanced and just economy for all Americans," said Jon Youngdahl, SEIU's National Political Director.

Brandon Davis is Deputy Political Director for National Field Campaigns. He will work with SEIU members--janitors, healthcare and public services workers--to expand grassroots engagement in legislative and electoral campaigns. Davis most recently served as executive director and political director for SEIU's Missouri/Kansas State Council and as political director for Claire McCaskill's Senate campaign.

As Deputy Political Director for Public Campaigns, Sasha Bruce will coordinate the union's independent expenditure and ballot initiative campaigns and help focus efforts on holding elected officials accountable for the promises they make on the campaign trail. Bruce most recently served as SEIU's Assistant Director of Government Affairs and currently serves on the board of directors for Democratic GAIN. She also served as Western States Political Director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Lindsey Schuh Cortes is Deputy Political Director for Finance and Operations. She runs SEIU's PAC and handles campaign financing. She will also help to lead the union's member political training and field operations along with research and polling work. Schuh Cortes most recently served as SEIU's PAC director and director for SEIU's Committee on Political Education.

Courtni Pugh is National Redistricting Project Director. Pugh will focus on the union's efforts to make sure every SEIU member participates in the 2010 census and that the redrawing of state legislative and Congressional districts is done fairly and justly to ensure that working families have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process through community-based districts. Pugh most recently served as SEIU California State Council executive director. She has worked for SEIU in a variety of positions and was also political director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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