King Election Statement

Brothers and sisters,

Just a few words regarding my candidacy for the office of Executive Vice President...

If you work the East side, you are likely at least acquainted with me and know what kind of man I am. If you're one of those who prefers working the West side, well, God bless you. Odds are, we haven't seen each other in a while and you are making that possible. I will take the time in the upcoming week to come out and say hi and make myself available for questions you might have. If I miss you, please feel free to reach out.

Having had the pleasure of serving our membership as a union steward over the last decade or more, (I've lost track), I've been granted occasions to successfully represent many of you on both sides of the river. Filling in for E-Board members when they aren't available has become common and while I feel I still have a lot to learn, I've learned enough to know that the office I'm availing myself to is a thankless one. I also know that many, if not most of you, can identify with having a thankless job. An administration that has failed us for years and whose only solutions are to make MCCDA members pay the price for those failures has seen to that.

There are so many issues to tackle and there is so much more to this position, but staffing is THE priority. Our new sheriff has, in eight months of holding her office, done nothing to improve our rosters. The vacancies remain the same. The excuses keep coming and every day at 16:00 if not earlier, the third floor of the dark tower is a ghost town. Fridays too. While they enjoy a 4/10 schedule or "work from home" and we depend on them to find quality recruits who make our environments safer, many of you are FORCED to work nearly 60 hour work weeks in the jail. The jail, where drugs have become deadly and rampant, where staff assaults are commonplace and where, on some days there are as many empty posts on the roster as there are filled ones. All due to the policies and practices dictated by those who don't do our jobs.

Chief Reardon assured me today, that's about to change. I hope for all of our sakes that he can keep his promises. If not, well let's just say they aren't going to like me very much on the third floor. And I don't care. You see, I don't need them to like me. I don't need thanks. I only need the satisfaction of knowing I was instrumental in securing a fair, safe and functional workplace for the people I love and respect. And I will be instrumental. That's as far as my self-interest goes.

Our E Board needs someone like me and they don't have it. You need a choice that offers someone who is experienced, proven to confront those who can effect change with truths, won't put ambition or self-interest ahead of your interests, will actually be able to complete his term of office and fulfill all his obligations under our constitution and isn't an option you've already said, "No" to. If you agree, you now have the option you deserve and I look forward to serving you.

Respectfully,

-Bret King