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| Kevin Derr with a supporter. |
Teamster Magazine told you about nearly two dozen Teamsters, former Teamsters and close Teamster friends who are running for office this year. We shared one candidate a day with you. Now that we're reaching the end of our series on Teamster candidates, we find at least one who we've overlooked: Kevin Derr.
Derr is running as a Democrat for state representative in District 75 in Indiana. His Republican opponent has voted for right-to-work-for-less, which Indiana labor unions vowed to repeal. (Indiana repealed RTW4less once before, in 1965.)
Derr became a Teamster in July after starting with UPS Freight. Two years ago he took over the Township of Boon Trustee Office after the trustee passed away. As trustee, he lobbied in Indianapolis on the township's behalf.
That was when Gov. Mitch Daniels began his attack on school teachers, removing their collective bargaining rights and introducing vouchers.
"That would make every one of our children a little profit center for somebody's private enterprise," he said. Then came the attack on workers. He decided to run for state rep.
"I want to stop the privatization of all of our essential public services," he said. "I don’t want to see something that should be truly left up to the voters given to something that isn't accountable."
At first he tried to keep work and politics separate. Then the Teamsters found out about him and he received a DRIVE contribution.
"I’m finding that our brotherhood is exactly that," he said. "Everyone comes out to help each other."
