SEIU 1199 backing Turner aide for Sixth Suffolk seat

The state's largest healthcare union is backing an aide to City Councillor Chuck Turner who is running for retiring state Rep. Willie Mae Allen's seat.

SEIU 1199 announced Monday that they are endorsing Darrin Howell, who is taking a hiatus from City Hall to run for office. The other candidates -- all are Democrats -- include Russell Holmes, Karen Payne, Kathy Gabriel and Divo Monteiro. No Republicans were nominated for the seat.

The Democratic primary is Sept. 14, effectively determining the winner of the November election.

Allen announced earlier this year she isn't running for re-election. The Sixth Suffolk seat includes parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, Roslindale and Jamaica Plain.