STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Staten Island congressional candidates Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), New York State Assembly Mid-Island candidates Sam Pirozzolo and Vincent Argenziano, and New York City Civil Court candidate Mary Kavanagh have recently secured the support of unions, advocacy groups and Staten Island elected officials.
Both races will come to a head on Election Day on Nov. 8.
N.Y. STATE ASSEMBLY, 63RD DISTRICT
Several law enforcement unions endorsed 63rd Assembly candidate Vincent Argenziano for office.
The Police Benevolent Association, Detectives Endowment Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, and Captains Benevolent Association announced their respective endorsements for Argenziano.
Today safety and security is the number one issue facing the constituents, and Vincent is someone who knows and cares about the safety and security of the people of the city and the state, but more importantly he understands and respects the sacrifice and hard work that New York City police officers do everyday and he is someone who will help bring normalcy back to the city and the state,” said NYC PBA Trustee George Winkler.
Vincent Vallelong of the Sergeants Benevolent Association said Argenziano is one of the people who will go to Albany and “talk common sense to everybody else and leave the door open for us to talk to them.”
Argenziano has received endorsements from additional law enforcement and first responders associations and unions: Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Port Authority PBA, State Troopers PBA, Corrections Captains Association, NYS Court Officers, Uniformed Firefighters Association, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Uniformed EMS Officers Union Local 3621-FDNY; Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics, and Fire Inspectors Local 2507 FDNY.
Uniformed Fire Officers Association President James McCarthy said, “He is a tireless champion of working people and union members. He will be a reasonable voice for us in the NY State Assembly. That is why the UFOA strongly supports Vincent Argenziano for New York State Assembly in AD 63.”
Said Bobby Eustace, vice president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, about Argenziano, “We are very very proud for the UFA to be able to endorse Vincent today, to have another steady, steady friend up in Albany. We need friends in the Assembly, Mike’s [Cusick] has been a solid friend and him hand selecting Vincent gives us that blind trust that we need to have that this friendship and good faith will continue up in Albany and we will be able to further our protections for pensions and benefits for our members in the future.”
Other associations and union endorsements include: The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726, The Amalgamated Transit Union 1181, AFL-CIO, New York District Council of Carpenters, Communications Workers of America Local 1102, Doctors Council, Hotel Trades Council, NY League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV), 32 BJ, the Asian American Labor and Community Organization and the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Argenziano has the endorsement of DC 37, the largest municipal employee union, as well as the NYS Public Employees Federation, The Professional Staff Congress CUNY, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and the NYSUT/UFT.
Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Mark Cannizzaro said, “On behalf of New York City’s school leaders, CSA is proud to endorse Vincent Argenziano for New York State Assembly. Vincent not only comes from a union family, but he deeply understands the importance of fostering strong relationships between the labor movement and elected officials. We know Vincent will continue to be a fierce advocate for school communities when he is in Albany.”
Small business owner and community leader Sam Pirozzolo, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines for the Mid-Island assembly seat, recently secured a variety of endorsements from teachers, NYC Parents Union and Staten Island’s Republican delegation.
Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) all announced their endorsement of Pirozzolo for Assembly District 63 on Staten Island.
Lanza called Pirozzolo a “fierce advocate” for issues impacting Staten Island families and said with his small business experience and education advocacy, as well as his support for law and order, Pirozzolo will serve Staten Island well in Albany.
“When we were on Community Education Council 31 together, Sam and I fought side-by-side to advocate for Staten Island’s public school students and their parents. He was a reliable ally then, and I know he will be a reliable ally now, in Albany, where we are fighting relentlessly to restore public safety, make our state affordable again, and defend parental rights,” said Reilly.
Tannousis said Pirozzolo has proven he would be a “capable partner” if elected to Assembly.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), the incumbent who is running against Max Rose in November, also announced her endorsement of Pirozzolo.
“Under one-party rule, Democrats in Albany have adopted destructive policies that have caused friends and families to flee our state in record numbers. Sam is a fighter who will be unafraid to push back against the radical left, work to restore public safety, and advocate for common-sense policies that reduce the cost of living for New Yorkers. He has my full support,” said Malliotkais.
Mid-Island Councilman David Carr (R) said he believes Pirozzolo will be a relentless advocate in Albany for Staten Islanders.
“There’s just too much at stake in this election for us to continue settling for the status quo. Now more than ever, we need to elect pragmatic leaders who will be committed to advocating for a common-sense agenda that restores public safety and rejects the out-of-touch policies that have driven so many of our neighbors to flee New York,” Carr said.
Pirozzolo has also received endorsements from New York 10-13 Association, Teachers for Choice, PLACE NYC, NYC Parents Union, NYC School Safety Coalition, Asian Wave Alliance, and Staten Island Dry Cleaners Association.
U.S. HOUSE, 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Nicole Malliotakis
During the month of October, incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) earned endorsements from multiple law enforcement unions and associations, The Jewish Press, Council of School Supervisors, and other unions and councils.
The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) said, “We proudly endorse Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis in her re-election bid to continue representing New York’s 11th Congressional District. She is a proven fighter and we appreciate her hard work to help Border Patrol agents do their jobs effectively and to implement law and order at the border.”
Malliotakis thanked the National Border Patrol Council and its President Brandon Judd for their strong endorsement.
“I joined their officers on patrol at the Rio Grande where I witnessed the challenges they face trying to stop the constant flow of deadly drugs and illegal immigrants entering the United States. I will continue to fight for commonsense legislation, like our Border Security Act for America that would secure our border and give the Border Patrol the resources, technology and staffing they need to enforce our laws and defeat the cartels,” Malliotakis said.
Malliotakis’ other endorsements include: NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, The New York Post, Council of Citizens Against Government Waste PAC, U.S. Capitol Police Labor Union, Police Conference of New York, New York Fraternal Order of Police, Mason Tenders District Council, New York Laborers, Transport Workers Union of America, and American Maritime Labor Organizations: Maritime Officers, Master Mates and Pilots, Maritime Engineers, SIU AFL-CIO Brotherhood of the Sea.
“As a state assemblymember, I restored bus service to our district. In Congress, I helped deliver NYC’s fair share of transportation and infrastructure funding after years of being shortchanged. I’m happy to be endorsed by Transit Workers Union of America because, together, we got results,” Malliotakis posted on Twitter about the endorsement.
Malliotakis on her endorsement from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste PAC, “Proud to be labeled a ‘Taxpayer Hero,’ ‘a strong and reliable vote to curb government waste and reform Washington’ and a representative who fought for increased accountability and transparency while opposing efforts to massively increase federal spending.”
NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT RICHMOND
Mary Kavanagh
Republican candidate for New York City Civil Court in Richmond County, Mary Kavanagh, received endorsements from law enforcement, carpenters, and sanitation unions.
Currently a law clerk in State Supreme Court, Kavanagh received endorsements from: The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYC PBA), the New York City Police Department Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA), the New York City Police Department Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), the New York City Police Department Lieutenants Benevolent Association (LBA), the New York City Police Department Captains Endowment Association (CEA), the New York State Court Officers Association, Inc., the New York District Council of Carpenters, and the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, Local 831.
“On behalf of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, it is my pleasure to announce our endorsement of your candidacy for election as Civil Court Judge in Richmond County. Your commitment to addressing the issues affecting New York City police officers is well recognized, and we believe that you are well qualified to serve the people of Richmond County as Civil Court Judge. We look forward to working with you toward our shared goal of a stronger, safer New York,” said NYC PBA President Pat Lynch.
Said Kavanagh of the endorsements, “As the daughter of a carpenter and the wife of one of NYC’s Strongest, I deeply understand the value of hard work, sacrifice, and service to others. It is for this reason that I proudly accept and appreciate the support of these respected unions. I commit that if elected, every person that appears before me will be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. I will strive to ensure that all are given equal justice under the law.”
** Candidates running in the 2022 election have also received many prior endorsements published in the Advance/SILive.com.
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