(ROCHESTER, NEW YORK) – The decision made by Grant Malone, who serves as District Manager of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 158/District 832 and as President of the Rochester Building & Construction Trades Council, to run for Public Office came down to a simple fact: “‘You try to fix things or you don’t complain,’” he says.

“And ‘you try to make it good - for everyone,’” Malone (Pictured Above/Ove Overmyer Photo/Via Facebook) - who’s lived in Irondequoit for the past 10 years, tells WNYLaborToday.com. “‘It makes no difference if you’re an R (Republican) or a D (Democrat), you have to sit down with people and do what’s right for the taxpayers.’”

Malone is running for a four-year term on the Irondequoit Town Board in the November 7th General Election. 

Irondequoit - a Suburb of Rochester, serves as home to more than 50,000 residents. 

Malone, who served in the Military (Air Force) for four years and worked as an Aircraft Mechanic, has been an IUOE Member for 39 years.  He became the Union’s District Business Manager seven years ago after a multi-year stint serving as a Business Representative. 

The Construction Union represents 1,400 Active Members - and another 200 Retirees, work in more than nine New York State Counties.

And, for the past five years, he has served as President of the 18-Member Rochester Building & Construction Trades Council, which represents 10,000 Union Workers across the area.

“This is the ‘first time’ I ‘ve run for public office,” Malone recently told WNYLaborToday.com.  “I’ve worked with local governments for the past (18) years - and as Trades President, engaged with local governments.  I’ve been endorsed by the County Executive (as well as the Rochester & Genesee Valley AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation and the Irondequoit Democratic Committee, to name but two).  I’ve lived in Irondequoit with my wife, Debbie, for (10) years, who has lived there all her life.  It’s a ‘great’ community.”

“Over the years ‘I’ve been in a position with Organized Labor to see what’s going on,’” he continued, “and ‘you try to fix things or you don’t complain.’  ‘And, you have to work hard to make it good - for everyone.’”

It was Monroe County Executive Adam Bello who approached Malone and urged him to throw his hat in the political ring, said Malone, who was told by those in the Political Community that he “had done a great job” with his IUOE Local and Rochester Building Trades Council.

“They told me that ‘I was not afraid to speak my mind,’” Malone said.

Malone was blown away by the support that turned out for a political fundraiser his wife has orchestrated, which not only included the County Executive, but the Mayor of Rochester, a U.S. Congressman and three local State Elected Officials.

“It was ‘very humbling’ to see that kind of support,” Malone said.  “In fact, many of the politicians ‘were impressed.’  The County Executive jokingly asked me, ‘Are you running against me?’”  ‘I was astonished to see such great support.’”

For the past several months, Malone has been introducing himself to Irondequoit residents, knocking on the front doors of their homes to talk about the platform he’s running on, which includes: Fiscal responsibility; Improving community services; Supporting Irondequoit Schools; Expanding housing for older residents; Safer neighborhoods; Supporting Law Enforcement; Promoting Economic Development; and Taking advantage of a bipartisan approach to utilizing tax dollars for the Town’s taxpayers.

In addition, and because he knows the benefits so well, Malone said - if elected, he would look to highlight Union-offered Apprenticeship Programs in the Building Trades in the Town, hopefully attaching a provision in any building project funded by the Town to make sure highly-skilled and -trained Union Craftspeople are involved, but more importantly that local people get the chance to work on them.

“I would like to see Apprenticeship (levels) built into the (construction bid process),” Malone said.  “‘It is relevant and I would hope, that if elected, the Town would listen to what I have to say in terms of why they make sense and are so valuable on any project.’”

While going door-to-door in Irondequoit, Malone said that his being a Union Leaders hasn’t come up in any of the discussions he’s had with voters - unless they ask.

“Honestly, I tell them then that I run a local Labor Union ‘and have had a career supporting’ Building Construction Workers,” he said.  “I tell them ‘I have been their (the Workers) voice when it comes to securing better’ wages, benefits ‘and a great’ retirement ‘so they can retire with dignity.’”

Going door-to-door has also worked to educate Malone on the state of politics in Irondequoit: “I’ve ‘learned so much and I am a lot more optimistic about the general public.’  You hear so much about people being Debbie Downers, but I have been surprised by how many people who’ve listened and been engaged with - more than (75%).’  They’ve been ‘pretty receptive.’  ‘I tell them I am here to help and that I will put aside any personal feelings and sit down with people to talk and do what’s right for taxpayers.’”

Now that’s he’s gone through the process, and with the November Election just weeks away, Malone is encouraging anyone in the Labor Movement – Leader, Member or otherwise to get involved and make a run for public office themselves in the future.

“(100%) I would tell them that,” he said. “‘You really feel better (about yourself) when you are engaged in your community and your workplace.’  ‘I think you pay attention more (to what is going on) when you are a Union Member.’  ‘And remember, we vote.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Many of the photos that appear in this Labor News Story are courtesy of Grant Malone.