Women and Politics

Attorney General Coakley and SEIU Member

By WCF Fellow: Trish

What better way to understand the needs of constituents than spending a day in their shoes? Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley this week will Walk A Day with Monica, a home health care worker and Service Employees International Union member.

Coakley received the critical endorsement from the SEIU local council, representing five unions and 60,000 workers. Walk A Day is a SEIU program to acquaint candidates with citizen’s concerns. Coakley will be caring for consumers and listening to workers’ concerns about their lives and their children’s futures.

Coakley’s been a leader on the issues important to workers and working families, including protecting workers rights, fighting for quality and affordable health care, and building a stronger and more stable economy.

The Women’s Campaign Forum applauds Attorney Coakley’s brand of leadership and proudly endorses her 2009 campaign for Senate. Check out Martha Coakley and our other endorsed candidates here.

Rare is the individual who is universally revered by their peers. But if you pick up the phone, call a union leader, and mention the former IBEW Political Director’s name, you’ll learn that Rick Diegel is such a man.

Rarer still is the male leader who understands that in order for our nation to be strong, women must be empowered and in power. Rick not only understands this, but has dedicated no small part of his professional and personal energy to making sure more women ascend. For years he served on the WCF Board of Directors and made sure that Liz Schuler, one of the highest ranked women nationally in the union movement, took his place at WCF when he retired from IBEW.

He is famous for championing women candidates with unions long before they receive many national endorsements. I was such a candidate last cycle when I ran for US Congress in PA-15, and Rick helped ensure that the unions were with me early and strong. (WCF was also one of my first endorsements and made such an impact on me that now I find myself being their President/CEO).

Listen to Rick’s incisive and powerful comments at our June 2, 2009 WCF Rooftop Reception.

Thanks Rick for being such a powerful role model for leaders everywhere! More women in leadership is best for our nation and its citizens - essential for the long-term well being of our country.