Joe Fitzgibbon, the 23-year-old progressive (and idealistic wonk), who's in a four-way race for the open state House seat in the 34th District, got the sole endorsement of both the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, which represents grocery workers, and the the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 751, which represents nearly 30,000 Boeing workers.

The big union endorsements come just 48 hours in advance of the 34th District's own endorsement meeting, scheduled for Wednesday night.



Fitzgibbon is running against two other Democrats, Mike Heavey and Marcee Stone , and an independent, Mac McElroy.

The UFCW also represents state liquor store workers. The union is strongly opposed to the trio of initiatives to privatize liquor stores.

Fitzgibbon says he does not support privatizing liquor stores. "It's an easy call. Privatization would impair public safety. There'd be more underage drinking and higher rates of drunk driving," Fitzgibbon says, referring to his fear that non-unionized, low-paid workers will have "less incentive" to card.

We have calls in to Stone and Heavey to get their comments on liquor store privatization.

UPDATE: Stone is also against privatizing liquor stores.