October 25, 2018
Empire State College Chapter member John Hughes said he feels good about getting behind NYSUT-supported candidates who are running in the upcoming midterm elections.
That’s why he took to the phones Oct. 24 to call fellow union members and urge them to vote Nov. 6 for the pro-education, pro-labor candidates backed by UUP and NYSUT. UUP members in Buffalo and New Paltz were also working for NYSUT-endorsed candidates in their areas.
“I’m comfortable that these candidates represent the interests of working people,” said Hughes, pictured above, left, making calls with ESC Chapter member John Valetta. “I am concerned about what’s happening politically in this country. If we don’t balance things, we may have problems down the road.”
Hughes was joined at the phone banks by Valetta and ESC Chapter President Pamela Malone. Statewide VP for Professionals Tom Tucker was on hand to assist; he is officer liaison to the UUP Outreach Committee.
“We need to elect candidates who will support our legislative agenda,” Tucker said. “It is important to be involved in the political process—the more involved we are, the more our legislators will know how crucial it is to fully fund SUNY.”
The volunteer callers reached out to hundreds of their colleagues to stump for Carrie Woerner, NY Assembly District 113; Aaron Gladd, NY Senate District 43; Antonio Delgado, 19th Congressional District; Tedra Cobb, 21st Congressional District; Anthony Brindisi, 22nd Congressional District; and Letitia “Tish” James, an ESC Chapter member and public advocate for New York City, who is running for state attorney general.
At work in Buffalo, New Paltz
In Buffalo, members from the Buffalo Center and Buffalo State chapters, above, called dozens of members in Western New York and asked them to vote for 142nd Assembly District candidate Pat Burke, a Democrat, and Democratic Congressional candidate Nate McMurray—who’s running against Republican incumbent Chris Collins. In August, Collins was indicted and charged with fraud in connection to an alleged insider-trading scheme linked to his investments in an Australian biotech firm.
Pictured above are, from left, Buffalo Center Chapter members Alex DeSha and Tim Tryjankowski, and Buffalo State Chapter member Fred Floss.
In New Paltz, 10 New Paltz Chapter members, above, took part in a labor walk to canvass for Delgado and state Senate candidate Jan Metzger, who’s running in the 42nd Senate District. Members went door to door urging people to vote for the candidates.
“This is probably the most important election of my lifetime,” Malone said. “We need to elect representatives that share our values of public education and labor, because both are under attack across the board.”
You can find NYSUT’s list of endorsements HERE, and the New York State AFL-CIO’s list of endorsements HERE.