Barack Obama did it and now 12 candidates for higher office in Southern California have shadowed SEIU 721 members in order to receive a political endorsement.Through our “Walk a Day in My Shoes” program, legislators shadow public service providers and get a real feel for the critical work SEIU 721 members do for the community. The program was created to ensure decision makers have hands on experience to better inform their decisions and help them stand up for working families and quality public services after they are elected.
This spring 12 candidates shadowed SEIU 721 members throughout Southern California. Members hosted them in a behind-the-scenes tour of the front lines. Here’s what they had to say:
“I appreciate your work and it’s great to see it up close. Everyone has a lot of passion for what they do and they’re willing to roll up their sleeves and work even harder.”
— Assemblymember Isadore Hall, on working side by side with health care providers
“The amount of work that you are doing continues to increase, but your budgets continue to be challenged.”
— Sen. Lou Correa, on shadowing Santa Ana member Monica Suter
“We need to pay attention to the child welfare system and we need to provide all the resources that we can so that social workers can do their job of keeping children safe.”
— California State Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, a congressional candidate
“Santa Barbara County eligibility workers help a lot of hurting people every day. Not only are they patient, but they are efficient and professional. I’m really proud of the service they provide our county.”
— Das Williams, candidate for State Assembly
The SEIU 721 Walk a Day program gives elected officials and their staff an up-close look at the hard work we do to keep public services running and available to residents in cities and counties across Southern California.
View photos on Flickr
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“The idea is that Assm.
Hall will remember he
walked in our shoes and
never forget the needs
of staff and patients and
he’ll stand up for this community in
Sacramento.”
— Charlotte Thrash, LVN,
Martin Luther King
Multi-Service Ambulatory
Care Clinic
“The decisions of our
locally elected officials
impact the jobs and
livelihoods of public
sector employees
in drastic ways, and I want to
do my part to hold/keep them
accountable.”
— Marianne Robles,
Administrative Assistant,
Public Works, City of Oxnard
Candidates Who Shadowed SEIU 721 Members:
Assembly District 35 Susan Jordan visited Santa Barbara DSS Das Williams visited Santa Barbara DSSAssembly District 42 Mike Feuer visited LA County Traffic Court with SEIU 721 member Mindy SherwoodAssembly District 50 Carmen Avalos visited South Gate Public WorksAssembly District 57 Monica Garcia visited Baldwin Park Graffiti Abatement Team Senate District 24 Ed Hernandez visited DPSS with eligibility workers in San Gabriel officeSenate District 34 Lou Correa visited the Santa Ana Transportation Dept. with member Monica SuterVentura County Sheriff Dennis Carpenter visited Ventura County Area Agency on Aging with SEIU member Kathy Riley Geoff Dean visited Ventura County Public Health with SEIU member Ruben Juarez