2018 Voter Guide NYSUT’s guide to union-endorsed candidates in the Nov. 6 mid-term elections Thomas DiNapoli Letitia James Christine Pellegrino John Mannion Keith Batman Patrick Burke Monica Wallace Letter from the officers Andrew Pallotta Jolene T. DiBrango Paul Pecorale J. Philippe Abraham President Executive Vice President Second Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Dear NYSUT member: Up and down the ballot, there are candidates who will support students and public education, who will stand We are pleased to provide this Voter Guide so with working families, and who will fight for the issues and YOU and your VOTE on Nov. 6 can help guide values that we share. This guide provides the complete list the state and the nation. of NYSUT-endorsed candidates. Please take the time to read Your VOTE is Our Voice for and consider this information before you cast your ballot Nov. 6. Our Union and Our Values. In addition to statewide candidates Tom DiNapoli, comp- troller, and Tish James, attorney general, we are proud to feature NYSUT members who are running for office: state Senate hopeful John Mannion; Assembly incumbents Christine Pellegrino and Monica Wallace; and Assembly challengers Patrick Burke and Keith Batman. It is up to each of us to exercise the awesome power of our vote ... and to support those candidates who will support us. Make a plan to vote, and make sure that your friends, family, and colleagues remember to vote, When Republican voters are most enthusiastic, as well. Republicans win elections. When Democrat voters are most enthusiastic, Democrats win elections. But this fall, VOTE Nov. 6 — Our Voice, let’s make sure NYSUT voters are most enthusiastic. Then Our Values, Our Union! students, educators, health care professionals and New York’s public education system, from pre-K through higher In Solidarity, education, will be the big winners! Our state and our country are clearly at a crossroads, and the decisions we make this fall will impact what happens from the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to the Capitol in Albany and in each and every community in New York. 2 NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide Inside: DiNapoli and James ...........................4–5 The NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide Congressional endorsements........... 6–7 is made possible by voluntary What’s at stake nationally .................8 contributions to VOTE-COPE, What’s at stake in NYS ...................9 NYSUT’s political action fund. To download a copy, visit State Senate endorsements ...10–11 www.nysut.org/voterguide. Assembly endorsements ..... 12–15 Union Value Give to VOTE-COPE .............. 16 Using an exhaustive, democratic process, NYSUT endorses Republicans and Democrats who share our commitment to public education, health care, retirement security, the right to bargain collectively and a strong middle class. While this is a “mid-term” election year, much has hap- pened to make this one of the most important elections in recent memory — as important as the last presiden- tial election two years ago. Powerful corporate special interests take every opportunity to strike at unions, pub- lic education and public services. They scheme to en- rich themselves on the backs of middle-class families. survey, and members of the Political Action Committee “We demonstrated the voting strength of the union last interview them. The PAC submits its recommendations fall when we overcame a vast polling deficit to defeat the during a three-day endorsement conference where they Constitutional Convention referendum by a percentage of are reviewed with local leaders in thorough discussions. 83 to 17,” said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. Participants review the candidates’ positions, voting “That caught their attention!” he said. “Now, we must records and reputations for accessibility and responsive- speak out again to oppose the lawmakers who sold out ness. Once the proposed slate of endorsed candidates is the clean bill to fix teacher evaluations, which stalled in the set, it is submitted to the NYSUT Executive Committee for state Senate last spring, and to support those who share discussion and then to the entire Board of Directors for our union values.” discussion and final approval. The union communicates its endorsements to all mem- “It’s a long process, but it is the best way to ensure the bers. Not all of you will agree with them, but the process endorsed candidates have truly earned our support,” reflects the opinions of members’ representatives. Pallotta said. “We use our union voice to support those who Candidates seeking NYSUT’s endorsement first fill out a stand for good jobs, public schools, health care and justice.” NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide 3 ‘Stand up, and I will stand with you’ State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli There’s a reason Comptroller Tom DiNapoli gained more state- wide votes than any other can- didate in 2014, and it’s not just because he has been a champion labor and cause harm to for pensions, fiscal responsibility public schools. and public integrity. “Public education is People like him, and they trust the pathway to the mid- him to do the right thing. dle class,” DiNapoli said. A longtime NYSUT ally, DiNap- “Public education is the oli has been working with labor door to economic security to mitigate the damage of the and a successful life, and negative Janus v. AFSCME ruling in the teachers hold the key.” U.S. Supreme Court last spring. And he It is time, he said, to fight back against pledged to defend against any attack attacks on public employees, against on defined pension plans of which the DeVos agenda, and against those NYSUT members are a part. working to dismantle defined benefit “No way,” DiNapoli told delegates to plans. And, it is time to fight for safe the NYSUT Representative Assembly schools and sensible gun legislation. earlier this year. “Not on my watch!” The comptroller said while today’s na- “ It is time to stand up. tional news is dominated by stories of And I will stand teachers in West Virginia, Arizona and with you.” — DiNapoli Oklahoma rising up and fighting for fair pay and basic job protections, he takes solace in knowing “Tom has been a wonderful ally through thick and thin,” New York is home to NYSUT — the nation’s strongest teach- said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. “We need him. And he ers union. And he urged NYSUT delegates to use that power needs our support now.” to wage war against those seeking to weaken organized 4 NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide An independent, strong advocate Letitia James State Attorney General NYSUT endorses New York City Public Advocate Letitia “Tish” James for state attorney general on Election Day, Nov. 6. James easily won a wide-open “At a time when our constitu- Democratic primary election in tional rights are under attack, September, leaving no doubt she was the party’s choice. the attorney general’s office must be occupied by some- “She has been a steadfast ally during her time in the City Coun- one who will be an advocate cil and as public advocate,” said for everyday New Yorkers and UFT President Michael Mulgrew. stand up for all of our rights.” “She has shown herself to be an independent, strong advocate for — James public schools and the working people of New York City.” “Throughout my career,” James said, “I have been driven by the basic belief that “That’s exactly what we need in a the law is the most powerful and effective state attorney general,” said NYSUT tool in our quest for progress and equality. President Andy Pallotta. I have used it to defend our most vulnera- Anti-worker, anti-public education activ- ble communities, to uplift our working fam- ists have been emboldened by backing ilies and to ensure that no New Yorker lives from right-wing billionaire radicals. They beyond the protective shade of justice.” continue to undermine the pillars of James is running to succeed Attorney fairness and due process in the state. General Barbara Underwood, who was “The election of a strong ‘top cop’ in chosen by the state Legislature to finish Tish James is crucial for the protection the term of Eric Schneiderman, the former of the professions and careers of NYSUT attorney general who resigned in May. members,” Pallotta said. NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide 5 U.S. House of KEY PARTY AFFILIATIONS: Representatives D - Democrat R - Republican C - Conservative G - Green W - Working Families I - Independence WE - Women’s Equality RF - Reform To find your district, T - Tax Revolt go to https://voterlookup. elections.state.ny.us/ 2121 votersearch.aspx 2525 2424 2626 2222 2727 2020 2323 1919 1616 Produced by NYSUT Research New 1616 U.S. House of and Educational Services York 1818 1313 Representatives 1313 1515 1414 City 33 DISTRICT/ NAME/ 1212 1717 66 (PARTY AFFILIATIONS) 1010 77 1616 55 11 1 Perry Gershon (D) 99 131315151414 33 1212 66 88 1010 66 77 55 22 1111 99 44 22 2 Liuba Grechen Shirley (D-W-WE) 88 1111 3 Thomas Suozzi (D-W-I-WE-RF) 4 Kathleen Rice (D-WE) 5 Gregory Meeks (D) 6 Grace Meng (D-W-RF) 13 Adriano Espaillat (D-W) 20 Paul Tonko (D-W-WE-RF) 7 Nydia M. Velázquez (D-W) 14 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) 21 Tedra Cobb (D-W-WE) 8 Hakeem Jeffries (D-W) 15 José Serrano (D-W) 22 Anthony Brindisi (D-W-I-WE) 9 Yvette D. Clarke (D-W) 16 Eliot L. Engel (D-W-WE) 24 Dana Balter (D-W-WE) 10 Jerrold Nadler (D-W) 17 Nita M. Lowey (D-W-WE) 25 Joseph Morelle (D-W-I-WE) 11 Max Rose (D-W-WE) 18 Sean Patrick Maloney (D-W-I-WE) 26 Brian Higgins (D-W-WE) 12 Carolyn Maloney (D-W-RF) 19 Antonio Delgado (D-W-WE) 27 Nathan McMurray (D-W-WE) 6 NYSUT 2018 Voter Guide Key U.S.