Columbus — U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland continues to fight for Ohio’s gubernatorial post by appealing to the working class.

The Strickland for Governor campaign recently announced that more than 330,000 Ohio workers and retirees are represented by the labor unions that have endorsed Congressman Ted Strickland to be Ohio’s next governor.

Six local unions have endorsed Strickland for governor, including Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 577 (Portsmouth), Shawnee District AFL-CIO Council (Portsmouth), Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 168 (Marietta), Boilermakers Local Lodge 105 (Piketon), Boilermakers Local 154 (Eastern Ohio/Pittsburgh), and United Steelworkers Local 2L (Akron). More than 2,400 Ohio workers and retirees are represented by the labor organizations.

“With Ted Strickland’s honesty, integrity and passion for working people, Ohioans can expect great things for the future,” said Kenny Ruggles, business manager of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 577 in Portsmouth and president of Shawnee District AFL-CIO Council, which includes local unions in Scioto, Adams and Pike counties.

“Ted Strickland is a man that shares the values of southeastern Ohio. He supports working men and women by his actions, not just his words. He knows that Ohioans need jobs with good wages and benefits to raise a family,” said Rob Ward, business manager of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 168 in Marietta. “When I’m asked who my Congressman is, I’m proud to say Ted Strickland. But I will be prouder yet to call him governor.”

“Ted has always been a man of high integrity. He votes 100 percent with the working families that he represents,” said Wyndham Sparling, president of Boilermakers Local 105 in Piketon. “He’s exactly who we need to clean up the problems plaguing our state and to restore our economy.”

“Ted has always been a friend to working men and women,” said David Prentice, political coordinator/financial secretary of United Steelworkers Local 2L in Akron. “The son of a steelworker, Ted’s life has been shaped by the hard-working people of Ohio. He’s one of us. And we’re proud to endorse him because we know that his leadership will move Ohio forward.”

“I’m so very thankful for organized labor’s continued support and for each of these very important endorsements,” Strickland said. “If elected governor, I pledge to move our state forward for all working families. Together, we can rebuild our economy, revitalize our state’s education system and restore integrity to our state government.”

Strickland seeks the Democratic nod in the primary. His opponents include ex-state Rep. Bryan Flannery.

Republican candidates include State Auditor Betty Montgomery, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and AG Jim Petro.