A labor leader running for the State Senate is accusing New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council President Bill Mullen of working against him even though his organization endorsed him last week through a legal ballot harvesting program.
Latham Tiver, an Operating Engineers Local 825 official seeking an open Senate seat in South Jersey, says Mullen is still using a non-profit group he controls to help convert Democrats less likely to vote in the 2023 off-year election into forever vote-by-mail voters.
“Mr. Mullen’s decision to effectively organize and fund vote-by-mail efforts for my opponents – against fellow members of the trades like me — is outrageous,” said Tiver. “Not only am I going to win this race, but along the way, I am going to make sure every building trade member I know is aware that Bill Mullen is trying to defeat one of his own.”
Mullen’s group, Prosperity First, has been mailing thousands of computer-generated VBM applications to Democrats in South Jersey requesting that they receive mail-in ballots in all elections going forward, which could substantially increase Democratic turnout in low-turnout years. Mullin himself is listed as the assistor for the applications.
Hundreds of new Democrats have signed up in the 8th district, where Tiver, a former Burlington County freeholder, is seeking the open seat of retiring State Sen. Jean Stanfield (R-Westampton). Tiver faces Democrat Heather Cooper, an Evesham councilwoman.
Mullen’s move against Tiver fuels speculation that Mullen’s labor group has become an arm of the mighty South Jersey Democratic machine.
The controversy has led Tiver’s union to drop out of the building trades council and suggest that Mullen resign.
Tiver said that the Local 825 business manager, Greg Lalevee, “was 100% correct when he said that Mr. Mullen ‘has clearly gone astray’ and should face accountability for his power grab.”
“I’ve always taken great pride in how members of organized labor looked out for each other, and as a business agent for Local 825, I’ve always fought to ensure that tradesmen and women who depend on me were given every opportunity to succeed and provide for their families,” said Tiver. “That’s why it’s so deeply disappointing to … Mullen abandon those principles and sell out his own brothers and sisters in the labor movement to advance his own political agenda.”
Mr. Mullen’s decision to effectively organize and fund vote-by-mail efforts for my opponents – against fellow members of the trades like me – is outrageous.
Mullen did not immediately respond to a phone call and text message.
Last week, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a ranking Ironworkers union leader, halted the building trades council’s planned endorsement of State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) in the 2nd district.
Mullen’s group has also been mailing forever VBM applications to voters in the Atlantic County-based district.