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Kasich Gets Union Endorsement, Touts Transportation Spending for Job Creation

Kasich spoke after the union announced its endorsement.
Kasich spoke after the union announced its endorsement.

Heavy equipment moved behind the governor, as the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18 threw their support behind his reelection bid.

State spending on transportation projects has gone up under Kasich, and the engineers’ union does most of that work.

"You know, the working people of this country, they’ve got to have support. But we can support them best when we create jobs," Kasich said.

Union business manager Pat Sink said that’s what the governor’s been doing.

"We follow the candidates, and what the candidates’ beliefs are on funding infrastructure, transportation, rehab projects, or whatever that gives construction work. We don’t follow a 'D' or an 'R.'"

Sink said about 100 union members are at work on the bridge project.

The event portrayed the governor on friendly terms with infrequent Republican allies: labor, as well as Democratic state Representative Bill Patmon of Cleveland, who helped Kasich secure transportation funding. The two exchanged hugs.