Candidates Walk a Day in SEIU Members’ Shoes
SEIU members from across the country are asking candidates from the Mayors office to the Senate to walk a day in their shoes. See photos, watch videos, and read more below.
- Ventura County Supervisors John Flynn and Kathy Long walked in the shoes of county employees Karen Garrett and Dave Gomez;
- Rep. Joe Courtney walked in the shoes of Connecticut paraprofessionals;
- U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Tom Allen walked in the shoes of Maine family child care provider Kay Mishkin;
- Michigan 9th Congressional District candidates Gary Peters and Nancy Skinner walked in the shoes of a home care worker and public works employees;
- Michigan 7th Congressional District candidates State Sen. Mark Schauer and Sharon Renier walked in the shoes of healthcare worker Annette Freeman and homecare worker Denise Mazuk;
- U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken walked in the shoes of Minnesota nursing home worker Ulysses Bridges;
- Former U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi walked in the shoes of Minnesota school custodian Mark Scherbing;
- U.S. Senate candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer walked in the shoes of Minnesota family child care provider Denise Welte;
- U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Tom Udall walked in the shoes of Dr. Elizabeth Burpee at University of New Mexico Hospital;
- Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire walked in the shoes of home care worker Rosa Vadillo in Tacoma;
- U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford walked a day in the shoes of Kentucky school custodian Zina Stanley in Louisville; and
- U.S. Senate candidate and former Gov. Mark Warner walked a day in the shoes of Virginia personal care assistant Shareen Miller in Falls Church, Va.
SEIU members challenged every candidate running for president to experience firsthand what it’s like to work and raise a family today by walking a day in their shoes and six candidates responded. See photos, watch videos, and read more below.
- Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Obama walked in the shoes of home care worker Pauline Beck;
- Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Biden walked in the shoes of school custodian Marshall Clemons;
- Former presidential candidate Sen. Clinton walked in the shoes of registered nurse Michelle Estrada;
- Former presidential candidate Sen. Edwards walked in the shoes of nursing home worker Elaine Ellis;
- Former presidential candidate Gov. Richardson walked in the shoes of family services worker Mark Fitzgerald; and
- Former presidential candidate Sen. Dodd walked in the shoes of Head Start teacher Colleen Mehaffey.
Sen. Barack Obama Walks in Shoes of California Homecare Worker Pauline Beck
SEIU Admin
As the fourth presidential candidate to “walk a day in the shoes” of an SEIU member, Senator Barack Obama on Aug. 8th in Oakland, California assisted homecare worker Pauline Beck as she cared for her 86-year-old client in his home.
Check out photos and lots more. Plus, watch Today Show coverage and SEIU’s video below:
Andy Stern Walks a Day in NH with Peg Smith
Peg Smith, Assistant Highway Patrol Foreman lives in Concord, New Hampshire and has worked to keep New Hampshire highways safe for 11 years. She believes it’s important to participate early in the presidential campaign process, and plans to talk to as many candidates for president as she can while they’re in the Granite State.
One of her top concerns in this election is spiraling health care costs. Peg knows the fear of being one paycheck away from losing her health care coverage, since that coverage is tied to her job. She’s 42 years old and has lived in New Hampshire for 22 years. More photos…