The Presidential election is upon us. The local has done its best to introduce you to the candidates as openly as possible. This issue of the Live Wire gives you a closer look at the candidates and their positions on the issues. All I can do is ask you to look at the issuesthat affect you and your family the most. I cannot and I will not tell anyone how to vote or who to vote for, but I will tell how I am going to vote and why.

It should be realized by working people now more than ever that we are under assault by corporate greed and there is no end in sight if we keep business as usual. This recent corporate bailout of Wall Street should be the last straw, but will it be? Will we get more of this from the next administration? It is clear to me that if we elect John McCain nothing much will change. There is only one way that I see that we have a chance at changing this direction and that is by giving Barak Obama a chance.

There is only one presidential candidate who has stated he would walk a picket line as President of the United States. There is only one presidential candidate that believes economic growth can only happen by helping the middle class and working families. And there is only one presidential candidate who will sign the Employee Free Choice Act. That candidate is Barak Obama. It is clear to me that Barak Obama is our only hope to stop this all out assault on working families. We have watched the debates, conventions and campaigns. When Senator McCain was asked about and accused of proposing $3- 4 Billion in tax breaks to BIG OIL companies, he NEVER had a response or a denial, not once. Is that the kind of help you believe this country needs? There are dozens of other reasons why I am voting for Barak Obama, like his support of the Employee Free Choice Act, but time and space does not provide it. And so on Election Day I will be casting my vote for the Obama/Biden ticket and I ask you to vote for him as well.

Another issue on the ballot this year is question 1. Simplified, question 1 eliminates the income tax inMassachusetts. Now, I know no one likes to pay taxes and I know how great this sounds, but we must think of the big picture. If the income tax is eliminated then say good bye to public services like police, fire, teachers and so on... I am voting NO on question 1 and I ask that you consider this question carefully.

In closing I would like to thank all the members who were nominated and ran for union office. I want to congratulate all the members who were elected. The challenges facing us are numerous. Lastly I want to thank all the members for their support. I look forward to serving you during the next 3 challenging years.