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theThe 2004 presidential campaignis already in high gear—a truly remarkable fact giventhat voters won’t go to thepolls for nearly five months. This is the earliest acampaign has reached this level of intensity inrecent memory, reinforcing our belief that the racewill be close and that the stakes are very high inthis election for all Americans.It is ironic that the Bush and Kerry campaignswill raise and spend millions for a job that pays thewinning candidate roughly one million dollars insalary over a four-year period. Considering bothcandidates are already multi-millionaires, there ismuch more involved than just the salary.Both candidates have spent tens of millions ofdollars, mostly on television advertisements, tryingto persuade those of us without all the money howto vote. Outside organizations allied with either sideare spending millions more on ads.In the so-called “battleground states,” the onespolitical experts believe will be the closest, familieshave been bombarded by political commercials.That will only get heavier and broader in themonths ahead.In the end, the candidates—no matter howwealthy and well financed they are—still have tomake their cases to the voters, most of whom areworking men and women. This is the strength ofour American democracy.Over the next five months, voters should take along, hard look at the announced and the hiddenagendas of both candidates who want to bePresident. Where does each one want to takeAmerica in the future and why? Which candidatemost strongly supports the interests of workingfamilies?The answers to these questions can be found inthe candidates’ positions on the critical issuesaffecting our members from their kitchen tables tothe shop floor and in their union halls. Theirrespective positions are clear and starkly different.Every union member needs to analyze wherethe candidates stand on: protecting overtime pay,tax fairness, Social Security, outsourcing jobs overseas,trade policy, health care and prescription drugPresident’s MessageCRUCIAL CHOICEScoverage for all, controlling skyrocketing healthinsurance costs and protecting the fundamentalright of workers to form unions.Throughout the course of the campaign season,the BCTGM International will continue toprovide our members with factual information onthe candidates and the issues so that they canevaluate which candidate is best for them, theirfamilies, our union and our nation.Detailed information will be available infuture editions of the BCTGM News as well as onour website, www.bctgm.org. I stronglyencourage all of our members to utilize this website.It is a tremendous source of information andpowerful tool for getting involved in the politicalprocess.Nothing less than the future of our country isriding on the outcome of the November elections.Because BCTGM members and their familiescare deeply about America’s future, I am confidentwe will go to the polls in record numbersthis year.American democracy is strongest when voterturnout is highest. Working families do bestwhen our voice is the loudest on Election Day!Frank HurtBCTGM International PresidentOfficial Publication of the Bakery, Confectionery, TobaccoWorkers and Grain Millers International Union10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895-3961(301) 933-8600www.bctgm.orgFrank Hurt, EditorCorrina A. Christensen, Assistant EditorBCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARDPresident Frank Hurt • Secretary-Treasurer David B. Durkee • Executive Vice PresidentsJoseph Thibodeau • Larry Barber • Vice Presidents Jeanne Graham • Shawn J. Grimm •Harry A. Guildner • Anthony L. Johnson • Richard Johnson • Sean Kelly •Michael T. Konesko • Arthur Montminy • Robert Oakley • Randy Roark •Ronald D. Schreiber • T.J. WarrenBCTGM GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERSJoyce Alston • Edward Burpo • Randy W. Fulk •Oscar B. Giles • Johnny Jackson • Micheline Labrecque • Paul LaBuda •Richard Lewis • Narcisco Martas • Herbert W. Marx • Danny Murphy •Brad Schmidt • William Sprandel • Doyle TownsonBCTGM News (ISSN 1525-4860) is published bi-monthly by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain MillersInternational Union, 10401 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961. Periodicals postage paid at Kensington, MD and at additionalmailing offices. Subscription to new members only. Postmaster: Send address changes to BCTGM News, 10401 ConnecticutAvenue, Kensington, MD 20895-3961.2BCTGM News