Fullerton, Calif. – Today, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 652 endorsed Fmr. Lieutenant Commander Gil Cisneros who is running for Congress in California’s 39th Congressional District. The endorsement comes on the heels of significant labor support for Cisneros, including IBEW Local 11, the California Labor Federation, the Orange County Labor Federation, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, affirming that Cisneros is the only candidate with the credibility and viability to represent working people in the 39th District.
“LiUNA Local 652 represents over 3,200 workers in Orange County. Our members know that we need to get serious about creating better middle-class jobs so all families can prosper,” said Adrian Esparza, Business Agent. “Gil knows that when we make smart investments in our community, infrastructure, renewable energy, and education that we can do better. That is why the local working men and women of LiUNA 652 are proud to support Former Lt. Commander Gil Cisneros for Congress.”
The endorsement adds to a truly impressive coalition of support including SEIU California, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), UniteHere! Local 11, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, United Steel Workers, the Orange County Labor Fed, the LA County Labor Fed, the California Labor Fed, IBEW Local 11, thirteen Democratic members of Congress, more in-district local elected officials than any other Democratic candidate running, women’s rights champion Dolores Huerta, the Giffords Campaign to End Gun Violence, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s BOLD PAC, End Citizens United, and the national Veterans advocacy organization VoteVets.
LiUNA members represent a diverse group of laborers, from highway workers to landscapers to clean energy workers and beyond. Since 1903, LiUNA has been committed to fighting for fair work practices, fair wages and benefits, and safe work environments.
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Gil Cisneros is a former U.S. Naval Officer and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country. Gil is Advocate and co-founder of The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, an organization committed to improving the level of Hispanic education in the country. Gilbert’s dedication toward philanthropy began when he purchased a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010. Gil and Jacki partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the city of Pico Rivera, California to create Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of putting a college degree in every Hispanic household in the city. Gil’s commitment to education, led him to be appointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative’s advisory board, on which he still serves, and President Obama’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
California’s 39th Congressional District, split between Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, will be one of the most competitive districts in California. Hillary Clinton won the district by a whopping nine points, the DCCC labeled it a first-round target on its battlefield map and recently, the Cook Political Report changed the district’s status from Lean R to Lean D.