TOLEDO MAYORAL RACE

Collins picks up another union endorsement

Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council voice support

Mayoral candidate Mike Collins, center, stands with Joe Cousino, left, president of the Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, and John Schlagheck, right, executive secretary of the council, as he accepts their endorsement at their headquarters on Front Street.

Toledo Councilman D. Michael Collins, the challenger trying to unseat Mayor Mike Bell next month, picked up another union endorsement today.

The Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council endorsed Mr. Collins, a retired Toledo police officer and former union president, over Mayor Bell, who has drawn the ire of nearly every local union for his support of forced concessions on city unions in 2010 and Senate Bill 5 in 2011.

The mayor was a proponent of Senate Bill 5/​Issue 2, the bill that would have weakened public employee unions’ ability to bargain collectively. It was defeated in a referendum after a campaign in which Toledo Firefighters Local 92, Mr. Bell’s former union, was one of the most active opponents. Mayor Bell has also said that he could support Right to Work under some circumstances.

Last month, the United Auto Workers and the the Ohio Democratic Party threw its support behind Mr. Collins.

Local 50 Plumbers, Steamfitters & Service Mechanics endorsed Mr. Collins in September and handed him a $10,000 check.

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in September endorsed Mayor Bell’s bid for re-election. In 2009, the chamber donated $16,000 to Mr. Bell’s campaign.