AFSCME debunks phony Rauner ad

A misleading new ad starring a "labor leader" is Bruce Rauner's latest desperate ploy in his anti-union campaign. In fact, the "leader" -- Ronald Wilson -- was forced to resign more than five years ago, after serving just seven months as president of AFSCME Local 993 at Vandalia Correctional Center.

The local's current and former presidents are both Republicans who recognize the threat that Rauner poses.

"I've worked at the prison here in Vandalia for 15 years, and in that time we've faced budget cuts and threats of closures and layoffs. We know firsthand how important it is to have a strong union fighting for us," correctional lieutenant Tim Worker said. "I also know, as the current president of AFSCME Local 993, a lifelong Republican and a former Republican precinct committeeman here in Fayette County, that Bruce Rauner is no good for working people. We know how to stop Rauner when we go vote."

"I preceded Ronald Wilson as president of Local 993 at Vandalia Correctional Center, and when the members of the local union asked him to resign after seven months in office, they selected me to replace him," said Russ Stunkel, now retired. "As someone who was president at Vandalia for almost 10 years, an employee of the Department of Corrections for 20 years, and a Republican all my life, believe me when I tell you that Bruce Rauner is not the answer any public employee is looking for."

AFSCME Council 31 also issued a statement to news media setting the record straight.

"Bruce Rauner's latest phony ploy shows just how desperate he is to mislead Illinois voters in the last days of this campaign," public affairs director Anders Lindall said. "After running for more than a year on an anti-worker platform of weakening union rights and slashing the minimum wage, now he wants us to forget the real Rauner and believe the fiction of his TV ads instead.

"Rauner may have the support of one individual who was forced out by union members disgusted by his failure to represent them, but unions representing more than 1 million Illinois families are backing Pat Quinn, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, auto workers, fire fighters, mine workers, pipe fitters, police, steel workers, teachers and more.

"Pathetic, insulting stunts like this are exactly why the more voters learn about Bruce Rauner, the better they know that Rauner is wrong for Illinois."

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