Good Union Foundation
Son of UAW member running for state office
John Fernandez, mayor of Bloomington, Ind., credits his parents for giving him the opportunity to succeed.
“My parents made a lot of sacrifices for me and my sisters,” said Fernandez. “As we grew up they worked real hard. We didn’t take extravagant trips. The goal was that my sisters and I would have the opportunity to have a good education and a good start in our adult lives.”
That start included knowledge of unions and working family issues. Fernandez’ grandfather was a union organizer during the 1930s and his father, also named John, belonged to unions throughout his working life. The older John retired as a UAW worker in Local 292. He was a machine repairman at what became the Delphi plant in Kokomo, Ind.
“We always talked about union stuff, about politics and about government and what we should be doing,” said the elder Fernandez. “He talked to my dad quite a bit about stuff like this. He’s for the working people all the time.”
Young John is running for secretary of state in Indiana and has the UAW endorsement.
“Terry Thurman and Connie Thurman are doing a phenomenal job of organizing the troops and getting the vote out — all the things you need for a successful campaign,” said Fernandez.
The candidate has to juggle public life and family life. His wife Karen is an attorney and they have a 3-year-old daughter named Isabel.
“It keeps you balanced and centered,” said Fernandez. “When you start to feel important, changing a dirty diaper can bring you down to reality.”
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