L.A. Labor Chief Steps Down

The L.A. Daily News reports:

Facing possible criminal charges, Martin Ludlow stepped down Tuesday as head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, acknowledging he made mistakes in his 2003 race for City Council but defiantly vowing to continue to speak out on issues.

Ludlow's decision marks the second time in a year the powerful county union has been left without a leader. His announcement came after weeks of speculation that federal prosecutors seek to charge Ludlow with violating city campaign laws in connection with a union telephone-bank operation during his closely contested council race.

The phone bank, carried out in mobile vans across his central Los Angeles district, was said to be operated by Service Employees International Union, Local 99, a union representing nonteaching personnel at the Los Angeles Unified School District.

"It is difficult to stand before you at this moment of great personal pain," Ludlow told a packed auditorium at a news conference at the federation's headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it is a measure of a man not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."

As Ludlow spoke, union members, family and friends chanted and applauded him.

This sounds rather strange.Are the Feds really just going after a local campaign violation?? It's hard to believe.