“I believe by being out in the community, helping people and including my union brothers and sisters to help me, it shows that we’re ordinary people just like anyone else.”
“I believe by being out in the community, helping people and including my union brothers and sisters to help me, it shows that we’re ordinary people just like anyone else. Too often, what people know about unions is what they see on Fox News. I want to demonstrate that union folks are hardworking middle class Americans, working hard to give their family a good quality of life and working toward a dignified retirement.”
Staying active in local politics has a direct benefit to the UBC, Vlahos believes.
“In political campaigns, people love to see the carpenters show up with people to walk precincts and make phone calls. And friends don’t forget that kind of help - it has a way of finding its way back. You may not always be able to draw a straight line between them but it's there in the belly of the political giant.”
His advice for other members looking to get started in politics? Predictable, based on his heritage: “Do it for the right reasons. Do it because you care about the community. Too often people start something but don’t finish it. If you’re going to do something, see it through, no matter how tough it gets.”