By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

District Council 37’s political Green Machine played a vital part in winning the overwhelming majority of New York’s 2001 City Council races in the Nov. 6 election.

Despite the union’s displacement and decentralization of its operations since Sept. 11, the union’s political strength and well organized field operations prevailed.

DC 37’s get-out-the-vote campaign set precedents citywide and ensured New York’s working families that they will continue to have a strong voice in City Hall.

When the final tally came in after the Nov. 6 vote, 47 of the 51 City Council members elected — enough seats to make up a veto-proof working majority — achieved victory with the aid of DC 37 endorsements and support.

More than 1,000 DC 37 volunteers worked throughout the city from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., when the polls closed.

They joined thousands of other volunteers from labor unions throughout the city in a united get-out-the-vote effort. And their presence made a difference.

Preliminary figures show that communities where DC 37 volunteers focused their efforts, such as Northern Manhattan, Central Brooklyn, Co-op City and Jamaica, Queens, reported heavier than usual voter turnout.

DC 37 also helped establish a series of political firsts:

• John Liu of Flushing, Queens, who DC 37 endorsed early in his campaign, is the first Asian American City Council member.
  
  
• Hiram Monserrate, backed by DC 37, became Queens’ first Latino member of the Council.
  
  
• District Council 37 endorsed Helen Marshall, who became the first African American elected to be Queens Borough President.
  
  
• The union helped Democrat Michael McMahon win the 49th Council District seat in Staten Island, a borough that usually votes overwhelmingly Republican.
  
  

Vitaliano wins Staten Island judgeship
More than 150 DC 37 volunteers helped State Assembly member Eric N. Vitaliano win the race for Civil Court judge in the 11th Judicial District of Richmond County.

“Though fewer DC 37 members live in Staten Island than in other boroughs, they came wanting to help Eric, because he has always helped DC 37,” said Michael Keogh, DC 37’s associate political action director.

With direct mailings and a support team of field and phone bank volunteers, the union was a major factor in Mr. Vitaliano’s victory in a district that generally favors Republican candidates.

“Eric has been on the forefront fighting for fair and equitable pensions for all public employees,” Mr. Keogh said. “He is one of the state’s best experts on pensions. We will miss his expertise in Albany.”

Eric Vitaliano was first elected to the New York State Assembly 1982. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Employees. As a State Assembly member, he championed pension supplementation legislation that helped DC 37 members and retirees. He sponsored the retiree COLA bill, which passed in 2000, tier equity and rate reduction bills and the Chapter 96 escape bill.

Sylvia Hinds Radix elected civil court judge
Former DC 37 attorney Sylvia Hinds Radix was elected Civil Court judge Nov. 6 in Brooklyn’s huge 6th Judicial District, which encompasses Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington and Park Slope.

In the end Ms. Hinds Radix beat out three male candidates, one black and two white, despite predictions that race would be the deciding factor.

“We ran a campaign that transcended racial and gender lines,” she said. Ms. Hinds Radix credited DC 37 and a family effort that included her dentist husband, siblings and volunteers from her extended union family.

Last year, she told DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders she wanted to run. “This is going to be a tough race,” he said, “but if you want to do it, then we’ll help you.”

“He believed in me,” she said, “and kept his promise.”

At the union, Ms. Hinds Radix worked in the MELS legal service and helped create the Affordable Mortgage Program and the DC 37 Citizenship Program.

After a 16-year career with DC 37, she looks forward to making a difference on and off the bench. “In my position I can show youngsters that they can sit on the bench — not just appear before it in handcuffs. And in my courtroom I will strive to make the judicial system work for all with dignity and respect.”

Afflick elected Delegate-at-large to DNC
Donald Afflick was re-elected in October as a delegate-at-large to the Democratic National Committee, which decides party policy, raises funds and develops the political platform for presidential elections.

“It’s an honor to serve in this position where I can work on behalf of my members and fellow unionists,” said Mr. Afflick, who has served as a DNC delegate since 1999.

He is president of MTA Clerical Administrative Employees Local 1655 and Chair of the DC 37 Political Action Committee.

As the only DC 37 local president elected to the DNC, Mr. Afflick will advance labor interests, working with President Gerald W. McEntee as a member of the AFSCME caucus. He also will serve on the DNC’s African American caucus.

The Democratic Party today faces major challenges, Afflick said. It must avoid a recurrence of voter disenfranchisement like Florida’s in the 2000 Presidential election; reunite New York’s Democratic Party and resolve the racial rift raised in the mayoral race, and reach out to minority constituents who feel taken for granted.