This diary is an update from a posted very early on Wednesday morning.
This is about asking you to give a hoot for Shelia Smoot (D-Birmingham) who announced on April 16 that she is running for Congress in AL-07. This seat is being vacated by Artur Davis who will be a candidate for Governor in 2010. (This diary is about her announcement and her fighting for the rights of UFCW Grocery Union Workers in Alabama) Her efforts helped to ensure that a Sale of the Bruno's chain of Grocery stores would honor Union agreements
We wrote this introductory diary in March and this diary in April. We will continue to visit Daily Kos and let you know what is going on with our campaign. We are not going to just show up around election time but we want to engage and really get something out this dialogue.
Shelia has been a great advocate for the people in her district and continues to be an ally of working people.
For example, Shelia was part of group of community leaders on Tuesday that attended and spoke at a rally for UFCW workers asking that Bruno's Stores (Bruno's is in Bankruptcy and facing liquidation) be sold only to companies who would protect union jobs. Bruno's has been a stable in the Birmingham Community for many decades. It has already been forced to close several stores and may be forced to close more or sell stores
Picture from the UFCW Rally on Tuesday - Shelia is in the Green Dress
Update from Thursday - Bruno's grocery stores reached agreement to sell remaining stores to Southern Family Markets. This sale will have to be approved by the Bankruptcy Court Judge who will honor the Union contracts.
Here is statement from a Bruno's exec
"I am pleased that we were able to come to an agreement with Southern Family that not only preserves jobs at our store locations but also delivers more value to our creditors than other potential outcomes would," Jim Grady, Bruno's chief restructuring officer, said in a prepared statement late Thursday.
From the rally
Speakers called for sale of the stores to a company that would preserve living wages and fair benefits for thousands of Bruno’s employees. The rally came on the heels of US Bankruptcy Judge Benjamin Cohen’s decision to reject Bruno’s motion to void the contract between the company and its hourly employees.
"Judge Cohen’s decision was not only the right legal decision, it was the right decision for Alabama and Florida," said Elaise Fox, president of UFCW Local 1657, at the rally. "We’ve seen Bruno’s in the hands of good owners and bad. The only decision left to be made is what kind of new employer this community wants in its neighborhoods."
UFCW Local 1657 members were joined at the rally by religious leaders, allied workers, and elected officials.
"The Bruno’s name is one respected and loved by many in this community," said Sheila Smoot, Jefferson County Commissioner for District 2. "The employees who built this company from the ground up have earned the right to be partners in Bruno’s revival. The citizens of Birmingham look forward to a new owner of Bruno’s that will make a long-term commitment to this city and these workers."
Here's a part of a letter sent by Shelia to supporters announcing her candidacy for the 7th Congressional District in 2010
I'm currently in my second full term as a Jefferson County Commissioner and I believe my record shows that I've fought for the people in my district. I've already made history as the first African-American woman and youngest member to ever serve on the Jefferson County Commission. With your help I am prepared to make history again.
Through my hard work and commitment I have successfully gotten increased funding for roads and bridges in my district. I have also created opportunities for our seasoned citizens in the form of new senior housing and programming and I have created opportunities to bring more green space in the form of founding and creating the Jefferson County Greenway Commission. I have championed the first Brownfield redevelopment project in my district that successfully took away 30 years of blight in one community and I have created numerous business opportunities for women and minorities as well as establishing a high tech industrial park in my district that created thousands of jobs for area citizens I will take the same attitude, commitment and work ethic to Washington D.C. and most of all to the 7th Congressional District.
Please visit Shelia's website and feel free to send us any questions or comments. We need someone in this seat who is going to stand up for the constituents like she has been doing since her investigative reporter days but also have a plan for improving the district.
Of course we would love any donations to the campaign whether large or small.