Obama Campaign Names 1199’s Patrick Gaspard As National Political Director
Patrick Gaspard, 1199SEIU’s Executive Vice President for politics and legislation has been named national political director of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
The political director spearheads relationships with other elected officials, labor unions and outside political groups.
Gaspard has led the Union’s legislative efforts in Albany, Annapolis, Boston and Washington, DC for the past year. Since February, when the 1199SEIU Executive Council joined with the rest of SEIU across the country to endorse Sen. Obama, Patrick has coordinated the volunteer efforts that sent hundreds of Union members to Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and other primary election states.
“This election offers a clear choice between John McCain’s agenda for continuing the failed policies of George W. Bush, and Barack Obama’s vision for change,” Gaspard said. “I am proud to be a part of this campaign, and I look forward to working to bring people together across the country to elect Barack Obama.”
He is taking a partial leave of absence from the 1199SEIU to take up his new position. After the November election, Patrick will return to help the Union mobilize all across the country to support the Obama administration’s push for healthcare for all, and for the Employee Free Choice Act.