UFT-endorsed candidates prevail in key local, state races

Attorney General-elect Eric Schneiderman speaks to supporters at the victory celebration. More Photos >>

Even as labor’s political support eroded nationally with Republicans regaining control of the House of Representatives, UFT-endorsed candidates scored key victories in city and statewide races on Nov. 2.

Both attorney general hopeful Eric Schneiderman and incumbent state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli won their respective contests, which were too close to call before Election Day.

The UFT’s vigorous support proved pivotal in the Democrats picking up two seats in Senate races. Democrat Tony Avella defeated longtime incumbent state Senator Frank Padavan in Queens’ 11th Senate District [see story on page 20]. Democrat David Carlucci, who was fighting for an open Senate seat formerly held by the

GOP in Orange and Rockland counties, won his race. State Senator Joseph Addabbo in Queens beat back a strong GOP challenger. All told, 93 percent of candidates endorsed by the UFT and NYSUT, its state affiliate, won their races. With these victories, the Democratic Party may be able to keep its slim majority in the state Senate.

All told, 93 percent of candidates endorsed by the UFT and NYSUT, its state affiliate, won their races.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew said the state and city election successes of labor-friendly political leaders validated the union’s attempt to form UFT-community political partnerships. That effort began in fall 2009, when the union established political captains in every school district.

“We’re seeing the first fruits of what was planted a year ago when we said working with the community means more than drumming up support for our issues, or even working together to confront common systemwide problems in education,” Mulgrew said. “We said their concerns, as parents and residents, were our concerns, too. Tuesday’s election victories come out of that joint work and that burden sharing.”

The single dark spot in the UFT’s bright night was the defeat of one-term Democratic Congressman Michael McMahon in the Staten Island-Brooklyn 13th Congressional District. McMahon lost narrowly to conservative challenger Michael Grimm, a political newcomer.

The UFT did not make an endorsement in the governor’s race.

In his victory speech, Schneiderman, currently a state Senator from upper Manhattan, thanked his volunteer campaigners, including a solid contingent of UFT members. He said their efforts “showed what activists could do.”

Comptroller DiNapoli, surrounded by labor leaders including Mulgrew on stage at the Sheraton New York’s joint victory celebration, credited the state’s labor movement for securing his victory.

Much of the union’s success came from a huge get-out-the-vote effort that included not just phone banking and mailings, but also a significant street campaign that helped boost turnout in key districts. On Election Day and the weeks leading up to it, members leafleted at transportation hubs and local gathering places and knocked on the doors of UFT members.

Paul Egan, the union’s director of political action and legislation, said it was the union’s largest mobilization around an election in history.
“Last night the UFT stood tall on the political landscape,” Egan said on the morning after. “The work, drive and total commitment of UFT volunteers over the last few weeks made it happen.”