Ed Mayne, the nation's longest-serving state AFL-CIO president, died of cancer Nov. 25 at his home in West Valley City, Utah. He was 62. Mayne became Utah AFL-CIO president in 1977 at the age of 32 and had served as a Democratic state senator since 1994.

"Ed Mayne was a man of great integrity and strong convictions," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy. "He enhanced the profile and influence of Utah's Democratic party and its labor movement in a state where both institutions are in the minority. He earned the gratitude of those on whose behalf he fought, and the respect even of those with whom he sometimes clashed."

Mayne was a strong advocate for labor and working people and was admired on both sides of the political aisle, noted Paul Rolly of the Salt Lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7559906. Mayne was a "high-profile labor leader in a state known for its stiff opposition to unions" and a Democratic state senator "in arguably the most Republican state in the union," said Rolly.

Years ago, Mayne gave the AFT a forum and a seat at labor's table, even though the AFT was a relatively small union in Utah, recalls McElroy. Just this month, with Mayne's assistance, Utah voters defeated a proposal that would have created the nation's first universal school voucher program. "Ed knew the voucher proposal was wrong, and he knew how to use the Democratic process to uphold support for public schools and institutions."

Mayne, who served on numerous consumer and charitable committees, was well-known for his community service projects and was just one of three elected public officials in the nation to carry the Olympic Torch in 2002, according to his official Web site and blog http://www.edmayne.com/blog/.

"Ed was a tireless and effective advocate for Utah’s working families, the disenfranchised and the less fortunate," added McElroy. "Utah’s growing labor movement is a significant part of his enduring legacy. Ed's many friends and colleagues can honor his memory by working to advance the principles in which he so passionately believed. We will miss him greatly."

November 27, 2007