Tinklenberg, former mayor of Blaine and former state transportation commissioner, is seeking the DFL endorsement to challenge incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann.

Elwyn Tinklenberg

"Elwyn Tinklenberg knows the Sixth District and knows the issues faced by working families," said Bill McCarthy, Blaine resident, president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, and a member of the Minnesota AFL-CIO general board.

St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly President Shar Knutson said Tinklenberg, "… has earned the support of the union members in his district because he is man of integrity and conscience with a record of effective public service."

Tinklenberg "knows working families are concerned about keeping or finding good jobs with good benefits and about traveling safely and easily to and from work," McCarthy said. He "knows working families are concerned about providing a good education to their kids and about raising their kids in strong communities."

Union leaders praised Tinklenberg\'s experience.

"As former mayor of Blaine, he understands the challenges faced by local communities," McCarthy noted. "As a former state commissioner of transportation, he was a leader in the decisions that helped lead to the successful Hiawatha Light Rail Line and the new Northstar Commuter Rail Line. And as a former United Methodist minister, he knows the broad range of issues families face. He understands that government policies that promote the common good and help strengthen our communities will help all working families."

About 40,000 union members live in the Sixth Congressional District.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org