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Union spends $29,000 in MP council race

by Renee Batti

Final campaign spending disclosure statements from the San Mateo County Central Labor Council show that the labor union organization poured $29,579 into its effort to defeat Menlo Park City Council incumbents Mickie Winkler and Lee Duboc and replace them with candidates of its liking.

Through its Committee on Political Education, the labor council spent $19,343 on mailers and voter data to oppose Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc, according to the state-mandated documents filed on Jan. 29 with the California's secretary of state's office. Both women were defeated.

The labor council spent another $10,236 on mailers supporting Heyward Robinson and Richard Cline, according to the documents. Both men were elected.

The third open seat was won by John Boyle. The labor council played no role in Mr. Boyle's campaign, nor on that of Vince Bressler, who lost his bid for a council seat.

The third council member whose term expired in November, Nicholas Jellins, chose not to seek another term.

Local labor officials had vowed to work against the re-election campaigns of any council member who supported future privatization of city services after the City Council majority pushed through the privatization of the city's new aquatics center early last year. Ms. Winkler, Ms. Duboc and Mr. Jellins formed that majority.

Soon after taking the controversial action on the aquatics center, the majority set off on a course intended to privatize the Burgess child care program. That effort was unsuccessful, but further provoked union members and officials.