Despite low voter turnout in the five boroughs, District Council 37’s endorsed candidates skated to victory Sept. 14, beating challengers in 98 percent of the races where primaries for U.S. Congressional and State Senate and Assembly seats were held.

“We’ve got to be proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “We picked candidates who support labor and working families and gave them the ammunition they needed to win.”

Although the looming vote for the White House overshadowed this year’s primary elections, diehard DC 37 volunteers organized to get out the vote. They knocked on members’ doors, distributed campaign flyers at street corners and subway stops from Park Slope to Parkchester and helped U.S. Congress member Major Owens of Brooklyn trounce his opponents to keep his long held post.

“Major is in a better position to help us,” Ms. Roberts offered. “Because of his seniority and expertise, and with a new Democratic majority, we hope he’ll chair a committee and really help advance labor’s agenda.”

While official results were not available as PEP went to press, State Assembly incumbents were among the biggest winners Tuesday. Brooklyn’s Clarence Norman Jr., Harlem’s Adam Clayton Powell IV, and Peter Rivera, Michael A. Benjamin, Naomi Rivera and Carmen Arroyo of the Bronx are poised to return for another term in Albany.

In State Senate races John Sabini of Queens, Brooklyn’s Martin Malave Dilan of Bushwick and Kevin Parker of Flatbush, as well as political newcomer and DC 37 member Diane Savino of Staten Island won their primaries and will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Local 1549 member Carmen Flores volunteered uptown with six of her co-workers from the Child Support Enforcement Agency. “DC 37 has one of the best-organized political operations out here,” she said. “I am proud my union is so
committed.”

 

— Diane S. Williams