Another influential union has weighed in on behalf of Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair)’s campaign for the 11th congressional district: the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC).
“Throughout his time in public life, Brendan Gill has been a great friend to our neighbors, and to working people in general,” HTC President Rich Maroko said in a statement. “With Congresswoman Sherrill departing Congress for the statehouse, we need to send another one of our champions down to DC. Brendan will be our voice and our defender in the House.”
HTC, which represents nearly 40,000 hospitality employees across the New York City metropolitan area, supported the congresswoman Gill hopes to succeed, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), in this year’s gubernatorial general election. But in the Democratic primary, HTC instead backed Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who finished in third place.
Gill is one of nine Democrats (and counting) currently in the race for the Democratic-leaning 11th district, which is set to host a special election sometime next year to determine Sherrill’s replacement.
And so far, Gill has an early lead with organized labor; the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 108 President Charles Hall both endorsed him yesterday.
