The overall union organization may have taken a stand on the Ironton Municipal Court's Judge race but the local chapter is staying out of battle.

Last week, it was reported that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 8 and a handful of other union groups endorsed candidate Kevin Waldo for the judge post. However, the AFSCME Local 771 that represents more than 40 City of Ironton employees was not involved in the decision and has not taken sides.

&#8220The local union never voted on it. We didn't bring it to vote because it wouldn't be fair,” said Local 771 President Adam Brown. &#8220Some people have wives who work for the court. There was just too much of a conflict.”

The union includes employees in the city's street, sanitation, flood, water, sewer, income tax and water collection departments as well as police dispatchers and the meter attendant.

The endorsement was initiated at an AFSCME International meeting and was handed down from Council 8 in Athens, Brown said. The local chapter is a member of Council 8 but no officers from the Ironton chapter were involved in the decision. As a group, 771 has no plans to get involved, Brown said.

&#8220We had no vote and have not backed a candidate, as a union,” Brown said. &#8220Individual choices can be made, but the union as a whole is staying out of it.”