UFCW Backs Thrun Over Duran in HD-5

Crisanta Duran Quote

Crisanta Duran released this quote in response to the press release. I think it's worthwhile to add to the post.

"Throughout my career, I have stood up for the hardworking men and women that make up UFCW Local 7 and will continue to do so if I am elected to the state legislature.
It is disappointing that the new UFCW leadership is using union dues to continue a personal vendetta against my father and putting politics before the best interests of the membership. It is even more unfortunate that Mark Thrun would use this announcement for political gain.

While Mark and Kim focus on going negative, I will continue to focus on the kitchen-table issues that impact hardworking folks in HD5.

At the end of the day, I have more experience, passion and innovative solutions to difficult issues that will better the lives of hard working folks in HD5. This is why I'm running for office and I challenge my opponent to run on the issues and to demonstrate his experience to the voters in the district.

Furthermore, I stand by my long list of endorsements from UFCW International representatives, staff and rank-and-file members that are supporting me."

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by: HD5Dem @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 17:35:58 PM UTC

To quote Michael Clayton . . .

"That's just NOT the way to go here, [Crisanta] . . . "

The dig at the new UFCW leadership make her look like a sore loser--better to not say anything at all.  

And no, before someone asks, I do not have a dog in this hunt.

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by: automaticftp @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 23:20:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just wondering...

Has he ever once participated in a UFCW event? If so, which one?

The fact is, he's never once stood shoulder to shoulder with the union and they need all the help they can get. I'm just saying, it's pretty obvious that the leader of UFCW is using  Mark in a vendetta campaign that's gone way overboard, to the point whereby serious rumors have been tossed around without regard to the facts or reality.  

Instead of simply receiving the endorsement, Mark has aggressively shopped this press release around and included it into his fundraiser email which makes him just as bad as the person who's conducting the slimy attack campaign.

What am i missing here??

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by: HD5Dem @ Fri Apr 23, 2010 at 04:05:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

See "Denver Pols" reply below.

Why shop it?  That's the whole point.  To say nothing of how powerful it may be in that district, and there are no prizes for coming in second.

Thrun is just following the playbook by highlighting the endorsement of a group that has seems likely to have significant membership in the district.  When you go to war, you use everything you have.

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by: automaticftp @ Fri Apr 23, 2010 at 17:39:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're missing the point...

...that the story is the endorsement itself, not what Thrun says about it no matter how "agressive" you think it is. I would wager that the only "pushing" he did was the send button for the press release.    

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by: Nugget @ Sat Apr 24, 2010 at 20:00:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thrun going negative?

Duran criticizes Thrun's campaign for announcing the UFCW endorsement but his nowhere did he mention Duran or any gossip about what transpired with her ousting. How then is he going negative? After all, Duran's endorsements are featured prominently on her website and she trumpets them in her own campaign communications. Seems to me like she is the one trying to use the UFCW endorsement for "political gain" by challenging her opponent to talk about the issues. If so, why is Duran talking about vendettas and union politics? If Duran supposedly has more experience, passion and innovative solutions for HD-5, why was she so indecisive about entering the race?    

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by: Nugget @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 19:44:15 PM UTC

Press

Thurn obviously pushed this out to the press for the purpose of highlighting the issue. It was an underhanded way to handle the issue.  

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by: HD5Dem @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 20:54:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's what you are supposed to do with a big endorsement

Criticizing a candidate for promoting a big endorsement is absolutely ridiculous.  

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by: Denver Pols @ Fri Apr 23, 2010 at 15:06:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Underhanded...

...might be appropriate to describe the UFCW endorsing Duran's opponent but it should not be applied to Thrun's campaign. The press would have covered the endorsement regardless of how much it was "pushed." The story is the endorsement itself, not what Thrun or Duran have to say about it. Nevertheless, I doubt many voters in HD-5 care about this. I hope both candidates move on.  

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by: Nugget @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 21:21:33 PM UTC

We can't disagree, Nugget

Sending out a press release about a major endorsement isn't exactly breaking new ground.

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by: Denver Pols @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 22:48:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

H D 5

Everyone knows that Crisanta has worked tirelessly for the workers of UFCW Local 7 and we are not the least bit concerned that she will do the same for HD 5. It becomes more and more obvious that the new leaders of local 7 have a continued personal vendetta against this young lady, and will stop at nothing. Regardless of it being Mark Thrun or Mickey Mouse running against Crisanta in this district Local 7 would have endorsed anyone but Crisanta. Qualifications are certainly not a factor here.The more sadenning thing to all this is the  Mark camp continues to bring light to this controversial issue even alleging a whisper campaign that Crisanta is Anti -gay how rediculous.Let us not forget he has never done anything for labor!  

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by: local7 member @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 01:56:27 AM UTC

Local7

I've been hearing the same rumors. That's why i was disappointed to hear that Thurn decided to aggressively play the UFCW hand.

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by: HD5Dem @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 02:59:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rumors and whisper campaigns?

I've also heard that Obama is a secret Muslim that wants to create death panels. I'm quite confident that both Thrun and Duran can wage vigorous campaigns based on real issues. Let's not eat our own by spreading gossip and hearsay.  

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by: Nugget @ Sat Apr 24, 2010 at 19:44:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

not "everyone"

you seem to speak with quite the authority as to Crisanta's work on behalf of the union, but not everyone agrees with you, not even the membership!  If everyone thought her and her father were such great leaders they wouldn't have been sent out on their asses last summer!  And further more if you knew 2 things about the fights that have gone on at the capitol over labor issues you would know both Crisanta and Ernie greatly hurt the cause there, they didn't help it.  They shoved an uncompromising position down legislators throats, giving any with some doubt a reason to vote no and granting the Governor the excuse he needed (probably wanted) to veto all those bills.  When the republicans wanted talking points against the bills they went straight for Ernie!

As for all this bs about UFCW endorsing Thrun because of a vendetta, frankly I could care less, if she had been effective in her job and if her family weren't corrupt then she'd have that endorsement and her father would still have his job!  If Thrun were anti-labor he wouldn't have the endorsement, its that simple.  Not every race is about who's worked for labor, its about positions on issues and Thrun's are apparently acceptable.  

And no I have heard no anti-gay rumor's from Thrun's team, and I would being a gay man and Democratic voter in HD5 who attended the assembly.  Everyone knows she's very pro-gay, so it would be ridiculous for Thrun to attempt to go after her there.  Really this whole thing is just being drummed up to create bitterness among democratic voters in the district and thats a cynical game to play.

As for accusing Thrun of touting the endorsement, please read a campaign 101 book and then comment, your ignorance of the political process is astounding!

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by: farleftfagala @ Wed Apr 28, 2010 at 04:04:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am saddened by the turn this campaign has taken

Yes, the UFCW probably used its endorsement process to retaliate against the Duran family, but Thrun was no party to any of that internal strife so blaming him is just wrong.

What saddens me most is the tone taken by what are obviously Duran supporters. They have been accusing Thrun of going negative but yet he has done nothing negative that I have seen.

It is the false accusations that turned the Duran camp into the negative campaign. Crisanta has a lot of positive features to use to promote herself to the district. She should be focusing on those, not on slandering (or allowing others to slander in her name) her opponent.

I also do not have a dog here. I know Crisanta and Mark about equally well and have served with both in various party capacities. Either one would be a good representative. But I think if the negative tinge continues, it will sink Duran, not Thrun.

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by: Dan Willis @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 at 14:11:13 PM UTC

Mark Thruns new friends

Come on be a bit more honest with yourself. Your arguement is like saying President Bush shouldnt be blamed for taking money and endorsements from big oil/ who were clearly committing many wrongs to the American people.You cannot seperate the two, further the Thrun campaign trained their paid staffers to spread  the anti-gay rumors and claiming Crisanta was part of big labor at the County Assembly.Although Mr Thrun now touts his UFCW endorsement he has willingly thrown himself in the middle of a personal vendetta against the Duran Family, only to make a political calculation of what it takes to win rather than doing what is right.He has never shown one shred of strength for labor in Colorado. When he had the chance to help organized labor he was nowhere to be found. He knows he only recieved this endorsement because of this personal vendetta, he also knows that he has done nothing for UFCW's membership yet his decision to seek and accept this endorsement says something serious about his character. If he were a man of integrity he would never have thrown himself into this fight.

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by: local7 member @ Mon Apr 26, 2010 at 21:10:28 PM UTC

So sad on so many levels...

...that I don't know where to begin. I won't indulge in any "he said, she said" gossip from the Assembly. I'll only reiterate (again) that the issue is the UFCW endorsement itself, which was unsolicited and I believe is inconsequential. There is clearly a lot of misplaced anger towards Thrun as some sort of extension of the UFCW leadership. Duran is a bright candidate with a lot to offer and this line of attack reflects poorly on her campaign. Anyone reading this thread by now probably hopes she herself puts an end to it.    
   

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by: Nugget @ Tue Apr 27, 2010 at 16:07:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

wow...

you went to the GWB place, what an idiot!

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by: farleftfagala @ Wed Apr 28, 2010 at 04:05:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

denver pols

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by: robertarthurac @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 04:19:54 AM UTC

Mark shouldn't fall for Pish Posh stunts

Mark getting the UFCW endorsement isn't a green light for his campaign. The truth of the matter is, he doesn't have any background or record with the Labor movement. Has he helped nurses or janitors organize at hospitals in Denver? Has he ever supported or helped anyone organize in Denver? Has he ever advocated for workers' rights or worker legislation at the grass roots level? Is there any real reason why Labor would endorse him at all?
If the answer is "no" to any or all of these questions, than the endorsement of UFCW will most likely suggest that it was made for internal and political reasons against Crisanta Durana, rather than for Mark Thrun.

It is not Mark's fault that he show-cased UFCW's endorsement, but rather that he doesn't realize that he was used for completely arbitrary and meaningless political reasons that won't help his campaign, or get him votes from union members.

A candidate's  record, ambition, and commitment for the rights of workers, and the labor movement itself, will truly matter the most to union voters.  

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by: DC's Inside Job @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 07:52:32 AM UTC

Campaign cash ain't pish-posh

Check out Thrun's latest campaign finance report if you think the big, fat contribution that came with the UFCW endorsement won't help his campaign. Would you turn down that money if you were in a tight race where one extra campaign mailing could make the difference?

Here's another crazy thought: maybe Thrun accepted the endorsement knowing that it would ruffle Duran's feathers more than any union votes he could possibly get from it. Her knee-jerk statement and ensuing comments from her supporters on this thread only shine a brighter light on bad news.

Explain again how Thrun is being used by a union that has little muscle to flex in HD-5. On that note, let me know how many UFCW members vote in HD-5 and how many other voters care about this endorsement.    

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by: Nugget @ Fri May 14, 2010 at 20:21:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Exactly

You made my point, Thurn used this as a low blow opportunity. The fact is, voters, especially primary voters, are tired of the negative attacks. If this is the route Thurn takes, he'll likely loose.  

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by: HD5Dem @ Sun May 16, 2010 at 19:17:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Let's move on, shall we?

We obviously have a difference of opinion about how political candidates should accept political endorsements. If the UFCW endorsement is so offensive to you, perhaps you should focus your energies on ousting those who actually made the endorsement instead of making accusations at Thrun.

We probably do agree that either candidate will ultimately lose by initiating negative attacks. Contrary to what you may think, the UFCW endorsement is not the central message of Thrun's campaign and I suspect Duran is smart enough not to do the same. The fact is primary voters want to make an informed choice based on the two candidates' ideas for HD-5, not on trivial outside endorsements.  

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by: Nugget @ Mon May 17, 2010 at 16:19:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Most of the other unions support Duran!

Duran has gained the support of almost all the other unions in Colorado. I think this shows that she is the canidate that will fight for working families. Mark Thurn is a wealthy man with a lot of rich friends. Crisanta Duran has my support!
I think it's really sad that the new UFCW leadership is spending time and money in an effort to stop Crisanta Duran from winning. The new leadership of UFCW should start fighting for their members, instead of spending time and energy in what is clearly a personal vendetta!
I'm with the majority of workers and Crisanta has my support.

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by: UNIONMADE @ Sun Jul 25, 2010 at 06:37:57 AM UTC