By M.K. FOTTRELL
PEF Division 171 Council Leader Julio Munoz says he was tired of the political machinery that he feels clogs the 15th Council District of the Bronx. So, he decided to run for the New York City Council seat vacated by Jose Rivera.

A special election is being held to fill the unexpired term for the seat, which was vacated after Rivera won election last November to the state Assembly.

Munoz will be running as a write-in candidate, after his opponents’ challenges to his petition signatures left him 10 names short of the 849 required.

Munoz is also running because of what he sees as the relative inexperience of his opponents — Joel Rivera (Jose Rivera’s son) and Edwin Ortiz.

“They are good men, but not experienced enough to speak for the people of the Bronx,” Munoz says. “The district boundary lines will be redrawn in 2002. I want to be there (on the City Council) for that.”

A community leader
Munoz feels he can speak for the people of the Bronx because he has been involved within the 15th Council District for 25 years as a community volunteer. He has organized youth programs, chaired the governing board of a day-care center, and has a seat on the New York City Police Council.

“I know the people,” Munoz says. “This is a grass-roots campaign.”

Munoz is an active member of the PEF Region 10 Political Action Committee, and his fellow activists are eager to support him.

“Because of the term limits imposed on members of the City Council this year, we have a real opportunity in New York City,” says PEF Region 10 Coordinator Jennifer Faucher.

“The new two-term limit going in to effect this year means 36 of 51 council seats cannot be occupied by incumbents,” she adds.

A candidate for labor
“PEF has endorsed Julio Munoz, and has made a commitment to endorse labor candidates,” Faucher says. “We feel there is nobody better to advocate for labor’s needs and concerns than one of our own.”

An investigator for the state Division of Alcohol and Beverage Control in New York City, Munoz is PEF chair of the joint labor-management committee for his agency.

PEF’s endorsement makes Munoz proud.

“I feel great about it. It’s time the labor unions start to support more of their own candidates, instead of having to back other people,” he says.

But since this is a special election, if Munoz is elected now, he will have little time to rest on his laurels before campaigning begins for the November election. And PEF, say Region 10 members, will be right behind him.

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