IAM Union Local 2003 held its third annual “Stakes at the Gate” political forum on August 16 at its union hall in Daleville, Alabama. The event brought together union members, community leaders, and local residents to hear from more than 25 candidates running for city council, mayoral, state, and federal offices.
The forum provided an opportunity for over 4,000 union activists and more than 50,000 Alabama residents to listen to candidates’ positions on a range of issues. According to IAM Local 2003 Legislative Chairman Patrick Wise: “This event gives working people in Alabama the chance to connect directly with those seeking to represent them. When candidates show up here, they’re showing they value the voices of working families. Allowing each candidate to present their whole platform is essential and has worked in favor of some serious races across Alabama.”
IAM Local 2003 President Anthony Holton highlighted the importance of civic engagement among union members: “Our union hall is not only a place for negotiations, it’s a place where democracy is practiced. The turnout today proves that when we say show up, be heard, and be counted, our members take that seriously.”
Candidates participating included individuals running for local offices such as Daleville City Council (Jada Stone, Karl Boesen, Alicia Jo Reese, Glen Lininger, James Roberts, Katheryn Horace), Ozark City Council (Dr. Danella Peterson, Winston Jackson), Ozark Mayor (Mark Blankenship, Charles Ward), Enterprise Mayor (Lister Reeves, Bill Baker), Enterprise City Council District 2 (Kenneth LeBlanc), Level Plains Mayor (James JR. Cambron), Daleville Mayor (Jayme Stayton, Kevin Turley), as well as state and federal positions including Josh Carnley (Alabama State Senate), Mark Wheeler (U.S. Senate), Dakarai Larriett (U.S. Senate), Chad Martin (Governor), and Will Boyd (Governor).
Rickie Langford, President of the IAM Alabama State Council said: “The Alabama State Council is proud to help create a space where working families can hold candidates accountable. Events like Stakes at the Gate make sure our voices are heard loud and clear to help shape the future for Alabama’s working families.”
Michelle Hunt, Vice President of the IAM Alabama State Council added: “The Stakes at the Gate forum has quickly become a cornerstone of political engagement in the state. This forum ensures that working men and women are not left out of the political conversation. We tie together all the issues that matter to Alabama residents, including jobs, healthcare, and education.”
Dozens of volunteers from IAM Union Local 2003 helped organize the event.
