The Pennsylvania State Construction and Building Trades Council on Monday announced its endorsement of two Democratic candidates for attorney general and auditor general.
This organized trade unionconsisting of 16 regional councils and more than 115 local unions from 15 international construction unions, endorsed the state representative. Malcolm KenyattaCandidate (D-Philadelphia) for Auditor General and District Attorney of Delaware County Jack Stollsteimerelection campaign for the position of Prosecutor General.
When Kenyatta ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, another Democratic candidate, then-U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb of Allegheny County, won support With The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, which is part of the PA State Construction and Building Trades Council — in the primary. Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, won the support of the PA council in general elections.
The topic of fracking for natural gas was discussed early in this race.
In the April 2022 debate with Lamb Kenyatta said to achieve a pristine energy future “we need to stop approving new fracking permits.” This seems to be at odds with the union, which generally supports the natural gas industry due to the potential for job creation.
However, Kenyatta told the Capital-Star on Monday that his position supporting a “moratorium on new drilling” was in line with President Joe Biden’s PositionWho received support from the PA construction industry in 2020 over then-President Donald Trump and what it is he talked about it during the 2022 election campaign..
“As Auditor General, I will ensure that project work agreements are enforced and that we create a renaissance of clean energy union jobs in the hydrogen industry,” Kenyatta wrote in a statement to the Capital-Star. “My position has always been that energy producers should use the permits they have, rather than simply say they need more.”
Robert Bair, president of the Pennsylvania State Construction and Building Trades Council, told the Capital-Star on Monday that the state’s construction trades continue to support the natural gas industry. As for Kenyatta, Bair said his positions have not always been aligned with those of the unions, but he believes his plan for the position is the best among the current candidates for the auditor general position.
“We’re excited that he’s going to work really hard for the working men and women of Pennsylvania,” Bair said. He cited Kenyatta’s plan to establish a Labour and Workers’ Welfare Office and crack down on wage theft, misunderstandings and union-busting as “a game-changer for our members”.
As for Stollsteimer, Bair praised his “extensive prosecutorial experience in wage theft and employee misclassification cases.”
Kenyatta with his colleague, a state representative. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) and Lehigh County Comptroller Mark Pinsley are seeking the Democratic Party nomination to challenge the incumbent Republican Auditor General Tim DeFoorwho announced his run in the elections last month.
Stollsteimer is one of five Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for attorney general, including Pennsylvania’s auditor general. Eugene DePasqualestate representative Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia), former Bucks County attorney and federal prosecutor Joe Khanand former Philadelphia Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey.
Republicans in the race for attorney general include York County district attorney Dave Sundayformer Delaware County District Attorney Kat Copelandand state representative. Craig Williams (R-Delaware).
Bair said there are “probably” a number of candidates on the Democratic side with whom they differ on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and other issues, but emphasized that they may still support a candidate if they agree on most issues.
“It’s okay if we don’t always agree on everything,” Bair told the Capital-Star.
“When we support something, we do it for a reason,” he added.
