Associated Press
BOSTON - The city’s main police union broke with a tradition of backing Republicans for president and voted to endorse Democratic candidate John Kerry, largely because he once honored their picket line.
The union’s 50-member House of Representatives gave its backing to Kerry on Wednesday, following a personal appeal by Rep. William D. Delahunt, D-Mass., to support the hometown candidate.
In June, while the union was locked in a bitter contract dispute with Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Kerry refused to cross the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association’s picket line outside a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The BPPA made headlines in 1988 for backing President Bush’s father over Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.
Union officials said they had never before endorsed a Democrat for president.
The National Association of Police Organizations endorsed Kerry last month.