Politics & Government
Maureen Coffey Receives Union Endorsement For Arlington County Board
Maureen Coffey, a candidate for Arlington County Board, received the backing of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local.
ARLINGTON, VA — The D.C. area-based local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has endorsed Maureen Coffey, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for one of the two open Arlington County Board seats in 2023.
Don Slaiman, political coordinator for IBEW Local 26, said the union views Coffey — a member of IFPTE Local 70, also known as the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union — as a champion for workers.
“Labor needs to be at the table when development decisions are contemplated. Workforce training and labor standards should be considered integral to land development in Arlington,” Slaiman said in a statement Monday. “We endorse Maureen because she shares those concerns and has the ability to address such changes.”
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Last month, the Baltimore-Washington Laborers’ District Council endorsed J.D. Spain Sr., who is also running for Arlington County Board. With two seats up for grabs on the county board, Spain also received the endorsement of IBEW Local 26.
Coffey, a former Virginia Young Democrats president, is a policy analyst at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.
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On her campaign website, Coffey said she is running for Arlington County Board “to fight for progressive policies that unify our community, address institutional bias and discrimination, and ensure that all Arlingtonians are able to thrive.”
After receiving the endorsement, Coffey noted that she is the only union member running for the county board.
“Workers are our most important resource and they should be treated as integral partners, not enemies or an unnecessary hassle,” she said in a statement. “I am grateful to IBEW Local Union 26 for their trust and confidence in me.”
Coffey is one of six announced Democrats vying for two seats on the County Board. The party will select its nominees in a June primary. Spain, Natalie Roy, Tony Weaver, Jonathan Dromgoole and Susan Cunningham are the other five candidates.
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