ALBANY, N.Y. March 12, 2018 — New York State United Teachers today endorsed three strong supporters of public education for state Assembly in the April 24 special elections and threw its backing behind incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley for Congress based on his career-long support of working people.
The NYSUT Board of Directors endorsed Cindy Doran, a retired Troy High School teacher and Rensselaer County legislator, for the vacant 107th Assembly District seat. Doran is the latest in a string of NYSUT members running for elective office. The union also endorsed former Suffolk County legislator Steve Stern for Long Island’s vacant 10th Assembly District seat and Nathalia Fernandez for the 80th Assembly District seat in the Bronx.
These are NYSUT's endorsed candidates for the April 24 special elections:
- Luis Sepulveda, the Bronx, 32nd Senate District
- Shelley Mayer, Yonkers, 37th SD
- Steve Stern, Long Island, 10th Assembly District
- Ari Espinal, Queens, 39th AD
- Harvey Epstein, Manhattan, 74th AD
- Nathalia Fernandez, the Bronx, 80th AD
- Cindy Doran, Troy, 107th AD
- Patrick Burke, Western NY, 142nd AD
“Working people need strong voices in the Assembly who will speak up for them on matters that are important,” said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. “Cindy Doran, Steve Stern and Nathalia Fernandez are all champions of public education, health care and affordable housing, and we believe they will continue to be fierce fighters for the middle class once in Albany.”
The NYSUT board also recommended Crowley’s endorsement in the June primary to its national affiliates, saying the longtime congressman has a stellar voting record on education and labor issues.
“Congressman Crowley has represented the Bronx and Queens with distinction. He understands the challenges facing middle class New Yorkers and he fights in Washington for solutions that will make their lives better,” Pallotta said.
NYSUT’s support carries significant weight. Not only does NYSUT make financial contributions from voluntary donations to help candidates defray the cost of campaigns, the union’s extensive phone bank will also make tens of thousands of calls between now and the April 24 special election on behalf of endorsed candidates. NYSUT volunteers will also hand out campaign literature, attend rallies and lead a get-out-the-vote effort at the grassroots level, he added.
“Our members will work hard for those candidates who earned our endorsement,” Pallotta said. “Our members care deeply about ensuring that legislators support maintaining quality public schools, colleges and hospitals, and the resources our students need to thrive.”
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.