Vote UFT-backed candidates in Nov. 3 election

With the Nov. 3 election just days away, UFTers are coming out in force to support their union’s endorsed candidates

While many Democrats are assured of victory in this heavily Democratic-registered city, the UFT is targeting several key races where a big vote for UFT-endorsed candidates — including for two Republican incumbents — will send a message that the union’s issues have strong popular backing.

Here are the highlights of those key endorsements:

• Manhattan’s Dan Garodnick and Jessica Lappin are both first-term City Council members who will likely play key leadership roles on the new Council. They richly deserve re-election.
• In the Bronx, veteran Councilman James Vacca is an informed voice on the Education Committee and a supporter of teachers and other public-sector workers. So will be Annabel Palma, who won a hard-fought primary against a do-little opponent.
• In Queens, Kevin Kim and Yen Chou will bring representation to their long-ignored and mostly Asian-Pacific constituents and fresh ideas to the Council, too.
• Brooklyn’s Diana Reyna took on and won a bruising primary battle and has always been a voice for the schools, while Vincent Gentile continues to shine in the council as an advocate for quality public education, neighborhood-friendly city planning and minority rights.
• On Staten Island, Republicans James Oddo and Vinny Ignizio are in their neighborhood schools regularly and can be counted on to put kids first.

City Council candidate Yen Chou speaks to reporters at a press conference announcing her endorsement by the UFT on Oct. 19 at the Queens borough office.