UPDATE - NYSUT holds off decision in governor’s race; rejects many incumbents

See endorsement list, elected official lookup and polling place locator tools below media release. (Updated to reflect endorsements made at the 9/24 Board Meeting)

ALBANY, N.Y. August 12, 2010 — New York State United Teachers today said it is taking no position at this time in the governor’s race and would revisit whether to issue a gubernatorial endorsement at a later date. 

The 600,000-member union also deferred making an endorsement in the attorney general’s race until later, and withdrew its longstanding support for a number of incumbent state senators and Assembly members, saying they have abandoned their long-time commitment to supporting public education and protecting the rights and benefits earned by public sector workers.

NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said the union’s political action committees and Board of Directors decided to wait and gather more detailed information regarding the gubernatorial candidates’ platforms and priorities for the state’s public schools, community colleges and higher education institutions.

“Andrew Cuomo has historically been a supporter of education funding and organized labor while advancing a strong social justice agenda,” Iannuzzi said. “Lately, his positions on property tax caps and statements about public employees have raised a lot of concerns among NYSUT members. We want to hear more and learn more before deciding whether to take a position in the governor’s race.”

“Some in the Legislature have — through their votes, public statements or failure to stand up and defend long-held positions they know to be correct — have not earned NYSUT’s continued endorsement or, at least, have not earned that endorsement at this time,” he added. “Still, we are pleased to be throwing our support behind many, from both parties, who clearly understand the importance of investing in our public schools and colleges and maintaining a strong middle class of public sector workers.”

NYSUT enthusiastically endorsed U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, members of Congress and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who Iannuzzi called a “dedicated and experienced public servant who has expertly managed the state’s pension funds during tumultuous economic times, while clearly demonstrating an understanding of the concerns facing retirees and all New Yorkers.” The list of all NYSUT-endorsed candidates is attached.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta said that this year, in response to unprecedented attacks on public employees and their unions, NYSUT recalibrated its endorsement rubric to consider not only candidates’ voting records, but their advocacy – or lack of advocacy – on those issues important to NYSUT members.

In the state Senate, for example, Pallotta said the union considered lawmakers’ statements on a number of issues, and votes on one-house bills that would have lifted the charter school cap without needed reforms, as well as a vote on a destructive property tax cap.

“Senators cannot hide behind the explanation that a wrong vote was on a ‘one-house bill’ and is therefore acceptable. It isn’t.” Pallotta said. “Those who choose political expediency over New York’s children and public schools – to favor charter schools without the necessary reforms or gimmicks that offer only the illusion of tax relief over a real reduction in property taxes for over-burdened homeowners — start out with two strikes against them.”

Pallotta said candidates for state and federal office covet a NYSUT endorsement. Not only does NYSUT make financial contributions from voluntary donations to help candidates defray the cost of campaigns, Pallotta said the union’s extensive phone bank operation — staffed by volunteer political activists — will make hundreds of thousands of calls between now and Election Day. NYSUT volunteers will also hand out campaign literature, attend rallies and lead a get-out-the-vote effort at the grassroots level, he added.

“In addition to financial support, NYSUT’s endorsement translates into thousands of volunteers out on the street,” he said. “NYSUT’s endorsement translates into support from the largest union phone-bank operation in the state. Our members work for – and vote for – candidates who support the issues they care about: quality public schools, colleges and hospitals and public pronouncements of respect for the hard work they do each day.”

NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents some 600,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; faculty and other professionals at the state’s community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York, and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.

This portion of the web site is paid for by Voice of Teachers for Education - Committee on Political Education  (VOTE/COPE), with voluntary contributions from union members and their families, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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The following endorsement list reflects action taken at the September meeting of the NYSUT Board of Directors. The board withheld a NYSUT endorsement in the race for governor and lieutenant governor, as well as several seats in Congress, the state Assembly and Senate.

Key:

D - Democrat

R - Republican

I - Independence

L - Liberal

C - Conservative

WF - Working Families

G - Green

Governor

No Endorsement at this time

Lt. Governor

No Endorsement at this time

Comptroller

Thomas DiNapoli (D/WF)

Attorney General

Eric Schneiderman (D/I/WF) (Endorsement made at the 9/24 Board Meeting)

United States Senate

Party Name

D/I/WF Charles Schumer

D/I/WF Kirsten Gillibrand