Capuano wins endorsement of state's largest union

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest labor union in the state, announced today it will back US Representative Michael E. Capuano in the four-way Democratic special primary to fill the Senate seat of Edward M. Kennedy, giving Capuano one of the most significant union nods in the race.

Representative Capuano

MTA president Anne Wass cited Capuano's "strong pro-education track record along with a deep understanding of the challenges facing urban public schools" as key factors in the decision to recommend him in the Dec. 8 primary to its 107,000 members. The decision was made by a standing committee elected by union members.

Capuano, a six-term congressman and former mayor of Somerville, has a voting record that earned a 96 percent rating by the National Education Association, of which the MTA is the state affiliate, and he voted for more than $100 billion in education and state aid under the two-year economic recovery bill, the MTA said in its announcement.

The MTA will communicate its recommendation directly to its membership. The political action committee of the union's umbrella organization, the National Education Association, also voted to recommend Capuano. The NEA PAC may expend funds on behalf of candidates.

The MTA announcement continues the union endorsement battle between Capuano and Attorney General Martha Coakley, one of the other Democrats in the race. Last week, Coakley picked up the backing of the 60,000-member state council of the Service Employees International Union.

With the MTA support, however, Capuano has the support of more statewide and local unions in terms of total membership they represent. The other Democrats, Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and Alan Khazei, a cofounder of City Year, have not been a factor in the contest for labor endorsements.

The endorsements reflect a sharp division within the labor movement in the race to succeed Kennedy, a champion of unions. The state AFL-CIO, which represents about 400,000 members, will decide as early as next week whether to back a candidate. A two-thirds vote of its executive board is required.