(Jefferson City) - The Missouri/Kansas Council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has endorsed the candidacy of Stephen Webber in the Democratic primary for Columbia's 23rd district seat in the Missouri House. Webber is a Marine who served two tours of duty in Iraq, worked as an aide to United States Senator Claire McCaskill and whose mother was a card-carrying AFSCME member.
"While there are two strong candidates in the 23rd House race, Stephen Webber brings an energy, an enthusiasm and a mandate for change that is truly inspiring," said Council 72 director Jeffrey Mazur. Mazur added, "The working men and women of AFSCME are confident that Webber will quickly become a strong leader in the House and a reliable voice for public employees."
Webber is a strong supporter of collective bargaining rights for public employees and an vocal advocate of expanded access to affordable health care and higher education. Additionally, the importance of a vital public employee Labor movement was instilled in Webber by his family, as his mother was an AFSCME member in a previous job in another state.
Webber faces opposition only in the Democratic primary for the open seat, as no Republican candidate filed in the strongly Democratic Columbia district.
"AFSCME activists are excited to work with the Stephen Webber campaign by volunteering their time and talking with family and friends about his candidacy. Stephen is an exciting young candidate," concluded Mazur.
