New Utah AFL-CIO leader hopes to build on Mayne's legacy
After all, their long-time president and highly respected leader, Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley, was struggling with lung cancer. So by re-electing Mayne and placing Judd behind him, there was a strong sense that he would be their next president.
Now, after Mayne's death Sunday, Judd is poised to succeed a man whom he described as irreplaceable.
"There is no way anyone can replace Ed Mayne," Judd said. "We are just hoping to build on his legacy and maintain the influence he carried."
Judd has been a union man for more than 30 years, starting out with the Teamsters in the early 1970s in Las Vegas. In 1977, he joined the Ogden Fire Department and the local chapter of the Professional Fire Fighters of Utah. Two years later, he was elected president of Local 1654.
He has served as the organization's state president since 1985. He will continue to serve in that capacity, even after taking over the helm of the AFL-CIO.
Twelve years ago, he joined the executive board of the Utah AFL-CIO. During that time, he worked with Mayne on a number of labor issues. He also watched Mayne navigate the labor-oppositional Utah Legislature as a senator, building relationships with officials from both sides of the aisle.
"Ed set the example of what a good leader should be," Judd said. "He established coalitions to get the job done. ... I plan to follow that template which he created."
The issues, especially fair wages and safe working conditions, will not change for Judd. And his approach, he said, will be the same as it was for Mayne.
"You need to be consistently vigilant in standing up for the right of the working families in Utah," he said. "We need to make sure their voices are heard, and we're always going to be advocating for those who are less fortunate."
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com
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