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Public Employee Press
Political Action 2003
Union candidates sweep primaries
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
District Council 37 picked all winners in the Democratic Partys
2003 Primary Day elections Sept. 9. The Green Machine of union volunteers
was visible on sidewalks and at bus stops, subways and shopping malls
from 6 a.m. until after dusk, campaigning for candidates in 18 of the
most competitive races for City Council.
This is the first time the union has had a 100 percent winning ticket
in any election, said DC 37 Political Action Director Wanda Williams.
In the days leading up to Primary Day, DC 37s Political Action and
Legislation Dept. mailed campaign literature, and hundreds of volunteers
placed thousands of telephone calls to potential voters from DC 37s
computerized phone banks to get the word out about the candidates who
stand with working families.
Leading by example, DC 37 Executive
Director Lillian Roberts and Political Action Committee Chair Leonard
Allen set out on a daylong campaign trail. In the Bronx, they campaigned
with Annabel Palma, a former Local 1199 member who, on her first try,
won the race in the Soundview section. In Queens they worked with incumbent
City Council member Alan Jennings, who fought the odds to retain his Jamaica
seat and won by a narrow margin, and City Council Majority Whip Leroy
Comrie was joined by Speaker Gifford Miller and State Senator Malcolm
Smith while greeting potential voters.
I am a worker, and together
well get the job done, Ms. Roberts told union volunteers in
the Bronx. Our jobs and quality of life depend on the outcome of
these races. I can feel the spirit of victory here, because we are surrounded
by so many hardworking volunteers.
Additionally, Queens Council member James Gennaro, Bronx Council member
Larry Seabrook, Manhattans Miguel Martinez, and Brooklyns
Diana Reyna and Erik Martin Dilan of Bushwick received encouraging support
from Ms. Roberts and other DC 37 leaders and volunteers. All outpaced
their opponents.
Although there were no citywide or statewide elections this year, the
DC 37 Political Action Dept. worked from eight auxiliary campaign sites
and set up field operations in four boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the
Bronx and Queens. Of the 51 City Council members, 20 incumbents, including
the speaker, did not have primary opponents. They will face Republican
challengers in November.
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