By Adam Pagnucco.
The Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council (PBWLDC), an affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), has endorsed Council Member Will Jawando for county executive. This is the second labor endorsement in the race following the fire fighters union’s endorsement of Council Member Andrew Friedson last week. (Disclosure: I worked for LIUNA in the 1990s.)
LIUNA is a multi-industry union with a core membership of construction laborers. It has spent millions on elections in Maryland, both on contributions to candidates and independent expenditures. Among its priorities are prevailing wage laws (MoCo has one of them) and applying project labor agreements to construction projects. Last week, as the county council voted to advance tax increment financing (TIF) in White Oak, Jawando commented, “I expect that these great jobs will have a strong component to be living wage, life-sustaining jobs, the folks that build this project. We talked about 17,000 construction jobs. And I think there’s enough opportunity here to make that happen.” That’s music to the ears of LIUNA and would be appealing to other building trades unions too.
Jawando’s press release is reprinted below.
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For Immediate Release
July 14, 2025
“Will Jawando Earns Major Endorsement from Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council Representing Montgomery County’s Frontline Workers
LiUNA Highlights Jawando’s Leadership on Prevailing Wage, Economic Justice, and Working Families
Montgomery County, MD – Today, Montgomery County Executive candidate Will Jawando proudly announced the endorsement of the Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council (PBWLDC), an affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA). PBWLDC represents over 13,000 members—including the county’s sanitation workers and construction laborers actively building critical local infrastructure like the Purple Line.
“The PBWLDC has a long and positive history of working with Will Jawando in his role as At-Large Councilmember,” said PBWLDC Business Manager Ryan Boyer, Sr. “Council Vice President Jawando was a lead sponsor on County Council Bill 35-21, which updated the county’s prevailing wage ordinance and included modifications critical to LiUNA and its contractors.”
As federal funding and communications continue to be used towards the demonization of immigrants, many PBWLDC members face the threat of being targeted, or even at times deported. “Many of us are afraid of what’s to come next. Mr. Jawando understands and respects what we do. With him, we don’t have to worry about whether or not he will do the right thing. He gets it and we trust him to lead,” said Julio Paloma, Business Manager/President of LiUNA Local 11.
“Receiving the endorsement of LiUNA, whose members are literally building our county’s future and ensuring vital public services run smoothly, is an immense honor,” Jawando said. “I am committed to ensuring our infrastructure projects pay prevailing wages, respect union labor, and create good-paying, safe jobs. Montgomery County’s strength lies in its working families—and together, we will fight for economic fairness, and dignity for every worker.”
Jawando has consistently stood with workers and progressive causes, championing equitable school funding, community-led affordable housing, bold environmental action, immigrant rights, and transparent public safety reforms. His leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to justice and equity, from his days serving in the Obama administration to his tenure on the Montgomery County Council.
“Montgomery County needs a decisive and visionary county executive to navigate these trying times,” said Boyer. “Will Jawando is the right person for the job, and we are absolutely thrilled to support him.”
With this latest labor endorsement, Jawando’s campaign continues to build momentum. Earlier this month, the campaign became the fastest-ever Montgomery County Executive race to meet the requirements to qualify for public financing—surpassing the threshold of support just 42 days after launching. Contributions from every corner of the county underscore Jawando’s widespread appeal and community-centered vision.
ABOUT WILL JAWANDO
Will Jawando, born and raised in Montgomery County, is serving his second term as an At-Large Councilmember, where he chairs the Education and Culture Committee and serves on the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee. He is a civil rights attorney and former senior policy advisor in President Obama’s White House, an author, and a recognized progressive leader focused on education equity, affordable housing, economic opportunity, climate action, immigrant rights, disability inclusion, reproductive freedom, and community-led public safety reform.
ABOUT PBWLDC
The Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council (PBWLDC), affiliated with LiUNA, represents over 13,000 workers in sanitation, construction, transportation, and other frontline roles across the region.
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