RUTLAND — The city’s former mayor is no longer working for a union that represents public employees in northern New England.
Christopher Louras, ousted from the mayoral post in March, took a job in September working for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 93.
An AFSCME official confirmed Monday that Louras is no longer employed by the organization.
“Mr. Louras resigned his position at AFSCME Council 93 effective Nov. 9,” said Jim Durkin, director of legislation, political action and communications for AFSCME Council 93, in response to a request for comment. “AFSCME Council 93 will have no further comment.”
Louras on Monday declined to comment.
He served five two-year terms as the city’s top elected official.
He lost his re-election bid in a four-way Town Meeting Day race in March to David Allaire, a veteran member of the city’s Board of Aldermen. Louras blamed his election defeat on his support of a plan to resettle refugees from Syria and Iraq in the city.
AFSCME Council 93, according to the organization’s website, represents more than 45,000 state, county and municipal employees in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Louras, in his position with AFSCME, was not involved in union negotiations with Rutland.
In the mayoral race this year, Louras became embroiled in a dispute with the local firefighters union over a proposed reorganization plan. The union eventually backed Allaire in the mayoral campaign.
