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Vote UFT-backed candidates in Nov. 3 election

Oct 29, 2009 2:06 PM

Dan Garodnick

Jessica Lappin

James Vacca

Annabel Palma

Kevin Kim

Diana Reyna

Vincent Gentile

James Oddo

Vinny Ignizio

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.

UFT Endorsements: 2009 Citywide Primary Election

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.