Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Utah’s working families lose a friend and advocate

SALT LAKE CITY - Ed Mayne, Utah state senator and president of the AFL-CIO passed away Sunday, Nov, 25, 2007, at home surrounded by his family. His joyous, battling spirit that so distinguished his life and his politics will be missed.

For more than 30 years, Ed Mayne raised his voice on behalf of Utah’s working families. What some considered idealism, he called common sense. Ed Mayne knew it was just common sense that families should do better economically, that workers should be safe at their jobs, that everyone should have quality health care, and that our schools should perform well. He believed that the American Dream is not just for the lucky among us but should be a possibility available to all of us.

An honest man who led with his heart, Ed Mayne always put people front and center in his work and in his personal life.

We all want our lives to mean something, to change something. The life Ed lived did both. Everyone who ever knew Ed knows what he would want us to do: Don’t mourn - go out and speak up for those who have no voice, empower those who think of themselves as powerless, and never give up.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Rob -- Good post. You have a writer's touch. I especially liked the idea that Ed wouldn't want us to sit and mourn, instead he'd say get out there and fight for social justice now. Uncle Don