AFSCME Endorses Greenfield, Healthcare Workers Back McGuire

By Pat Rynard

January 4, 2018

New year, new endorsements.

Both Theresa Greenfield and Andy McGuire added some support to their respective campaigns for the 3rd Congressional District and governor today. Both Democrats face seven-way primaries to gain the party’s nomination on June 5.

AFSCME Council 61, the Iowa public sector workers union, announced their endorsement of Greenfield in the Democratic primary race to take on incumbent Republican Congressman David Young. It’s one of the biggest gets yet in the 3rd District primary – AFSCME is one of the largest and most politically active unions in the Des Moines-based congressional seat.

“Our members know that she can be counted on to support working families and protect the rights of workers,” AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan said in a press release. “Our members work hard and never quit. Theresa has shown those same values throughout her life, and we have no doubt that she will in Congress.”

“Our campaign is about protecting the middle class,” added Greenfield. “I am thrilled to have the support of AFSCME Council 61 because America’s unions are the backbone of that middle class.”

AFSCME often brings with it serious financial backing and volunteers. Greenfield was also endorsed by recently-elected Des Moines City Councilman Josh Mandelbaum a few weeks back, and Mandelbaum’s fundraising network has reportedly already been put to work to aid the 3rd District candidate. Both endorsements may further boost Greenfield’s already-impressive financial reports for the near-future.

Also today, McGuire rolled out a long list of new local supporters backing her gubernatorial run. Over 40 healthcare professionals, from doctors to nurses to pharmacists to medical administrators, announced their support of McGuire, a doctor trained in nuclear medicine.

“Health care is one of the top concerns of almost every Iowan,” said Dr. Julie Thomas, a retired pediatrician from Cedar Rapids, in a statement. “People are losing sleep at night because they are worried about the future of their health care costs and limited options. As a physician, Andy knows that health care is a right, not a privilege. Iowans can count on her to fix our broken system and build an Iowa where everyone has access to affordable health care.”

McGuire has highlighted her background in medicine throughout her candidacy, and it remains one of her biggest strengths in a race dominated by healthcare issues. From the state’s troubled privatized Medicaid system to the worsening mental healthcare crisis in Iowa, McGuire has been able to address many of the topics top on Democrats’ minds with signifiant insight and knowledge.

The full list of current and former healthcare professionals endorsing McGuire are:

Som Baccam, Registered Nurse

Dan Aten, Retired Medical Administrator

Dr. Jason Barker, Infectious Disease Specialist     

Dr. Joe Cavanaugh, Professor of Biostatistics

Dr. Steve Eckstat, DO

Dr. Ava Feldman, Dermatologist

Dr. Carole Frier, Internal Medicine Doctor

Dr. Michael Graham, Nuclear Medicine Specialist    

Dr. Steven C. Hill, Family Practice Physician

Mary Mincer-Hansen, Former Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health

Theresa Lewis, Physician Practice Management Consultant

Dr. Rocky Morton, Physician

Dr. Dante Toriello, Physician

Dr. David Paulsrud, Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Heidi Shreck, Pediatrician

Dr. Corinne Peek-Asa, Professor of Epidemiology

Dr. Steven Rosenberg, Urologist  

Dr. Alex Smith, DO

Sarah Swisher, Registered Nurse

Dr. Paul Volker,  MD, Family Physician, Geriatrician

Dr. Barbara Shivapour, Internal Medicine Physician

Dr. Mike Witte, Pulmonary/Critical Care

Dr. Robert Grask, General Dentist

Julia Oulman, CNM/ARNP

Gov. Howard Dean, Physician, Former Presidential Candidate

Davi Lowman, Registered Nurse

Marla Rohret, Clinical Risk Management Coordinator

Mary Clare Rohret, USAF Flight Nurse (Retired)

Edith Friend, Family Nurse Practitioner

Dr. C. David Smith, M.D.

Christine Louscher, Counselor

Barb Hirsch-Giller, MSW, LMSW

Dr. Harvey Giller, DO

Dr. Julie Thomas, Retired Pediatrician

Dr. Mary Krieg, Registered Nurse

Dr. Joseph Barsetti, Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Harlan Rosenberg, Physician

Bob Greenwood, Pharmacist

Dr. Michael Hipp. Orthodontist

Dr. John Kearns, Dentist

Dr. Meg Harris, Medicaid Quality Expert

Dr. Bryon Schaeffer, Family Practice Physician      

Linda Goeldner, Former Executive Director, Iowa Nurses Association

Dr. Bill Morain, Surgeon  

 

 

by Pat Rynard
Posted 1/4/18

  • Pat Rynard

    Pat Rynard founded Iowa Starting Line in 2015. He is now Courier Newsroom's National Political Editor, where he oversees political reporters across the country. He still keeps a close eye on Iowa politics, his dog's name is Frank, and football season is his favorite time of year.

CATEGORIES: IA Gov | IA-03

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