Annise Parker Victory Offers HOPE for Keeping Houston Moving Forward

Houston--Tonight, the Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE) and SEIU Local 1 celebrated Annise Parker's historic election as Houston's next mayor. HOPE and SEIU Local 1 members each endorsed Parker through their individual processes, but together, members of both organizations helped score a critical victory for working families in Houston by electing a visionary leader that will move Houston forward.

I was proud to tell my friends I was volunteering to elect Annise Parker because of her track record for supporting working families like mine," said Roy Sanchez, HOPE Path Committee Chair and PWE employee. "Her "Hire Houston First Campaign" and "Bank on Houston" program shows her commitment to keeping and creating good jobs in our community with our own tax dollars.

"Houston janitors worked hard to elect Annise Parker because she has the vision and experience to lead Houston," said Mercedes Herrera, Houston janitor and member of SEIU Local 1." Annise Parker's plans on issues that impact working families, a strong economy, safe neighborhoods and improving programs for our children, will create a better future for our city."

More than 100 members volunteered their time to knock on doors and engage their community in the election. In addition to direct voter contact, HOPE and SEIU Local 1 sent seven mail pieces to their members along with two rounds of phone calls while SEIU COPE spent more than $100,000 on six independent pieces of mail to voters throughout Houston highlighting Parker's commitment to keeping our families safe, leading a lasting economic recovery and keeping our financial house in order.

"Throughout her years in public service, Annise helped save vital services by creating a rainy day fund to secure city jobs and proved herself a prudent fiscal manager committed to saving taxpayer dollars without balancing the budget on the backs of hardworking city workers," said HOPE President Melvin Hughes, a PWE employee. "She understands what it will take to rebuild our economy and our families were proud to stand with her in this race."

"Houston needs a leader who can determine our priorities and bring people together to make the tough decisions and the smart choices necessary to keep our city moving forward-- not just locally, but nationally," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "Tonight, Houston voters said loud and clear that Annise Parker is that leader. We look forward to working with her in the coming years."

HOPE is affiliated with both the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), ensuring that HOPE supporters get the best of both worlds' expertise in improving wages and benefits and longtime experience here in Houston. Together, we're building a grassroots movement to raise standards for all Houston workers by creating good jobs in our community, improving health care, ensuring reliable public services and protecting secure retirements.

Service Employees International Union Local 1 unites more than 50,000 workers in Texas and throughout Mid-America. SEIU security officers, food service workers, and janitors are working with community leaders to advocate for the quality services the public deserves and the good jobs our communities need.

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