Plumbers union flexes muscle in local campaigns
Published: Tuesday, May. 18, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
From prison guards to teachers, organized labor wields influence over California politics like an iron pipe. In the Sacramento region, one group's clout rises above the others.
The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447 has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into local campaigns over the years. They've groomed young candidates on utility boards, attacked mayoral hopefuls and given heavily to local Democratic organizations.
In the past three years, Local 447 has pumped $758,803 into area candidates, political committees and measure campaigns, records compiled by the secretary of state's office show. That's more than the region's two largest law enforcement unions, the firefighters union and the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce – combined.
Another $470,000 in plumber money has gone to groups and individuals outside the Sacramento region, from the Los Angeles
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