Unions endorse pair of hopefuls

Democratic 14th Congressional District hopefuls John Laesch and Bill Foster secured endorsements from two different labor unions this week.

The Illinois State Labor Federation, which represents 1 million workers, voted Tuesday to back Laesch, a union carpenter from Newark.

In a statement, Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan said the group endorsed Laesch because he "ran a previous campaign where he developed close allies in the labor movement and because he stands with working families on our core issues."

Laesch said he appreciates the union's support.

"Every advance in workers' rights, from health benefits, to overtime pay and sick leave, to the five-day work week, has come from the persistence and work of organized labor," Laesch said.

The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents 95,000 members, backed Foster, the Geneva scientist's campaign announced Wednesday.

"Bill Foster has been a successful scientist and businessman. Now he wants to use his experience to help change Congress and make government more responsive to working families," AFSCME Executive Director Henry Bayer said in a prepared statement.

Laesch and Foster will face St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein and Geneva resident Joe Serra in the primary.

All are vying to replace former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, who resigned last week with less than a year left on his term. The candidates will compete in a special election and regular primary Feb. 5.

Laesch has the support of several organized labor groups. He's backed by the Northwestern Illinois Building and Trades Council, the Western Regional Council of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America and his own union, the Carpenters Local 195 of LaSalle.