Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990                   TAG: 9005130252
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ROANOKE                                LENGTH: Short

AFL-CIO LOOKS FOR CANDIDATE

Danny LeBlanc, secretary-treasurer for the state AFL-CIO, said he has commissioned a six-month computer study of Virginia precincts to see where union workers and retirees live.

With that information in hand, he hopes the AFL-CIO can look out for its interests next year when the General Assembly redraws legislative districts based on 1990 census figures.

"Redistricting is going to carve out some new districts we're going to be involved in," LeBlanc said, most likely in fast-growing Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

LeBlanc said the Democratic Party ought to consider union leaders along with lawyers and business executives as logical candidates.

"Typically, union leaders, if they're worth their salt, understand politics better than some politicians," LeBlanc said. "To get elected in some union offices is tougher than some city councils."

United Mine Workers leader Jackie Stump was elected last year to the House of Delegates.

"We fully intend to find some more Jackie Stumps," said LeBlanc, who is running unopposed for state AFL-CIO president. "What we're looking for in the '90s is some of our members to come forward and say we're running for the General Assembly."