Public Employee Press

Election 2015
Union-backed candidates sweep

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

The five union-backed Democratic Party candidates all won their Nov. 3 elections by wide margins.

The closest race was in Staten Island, where Michael McMahon won 55 percent of the vote in the election for district attorney.

Barry Grodenchik won his election to represent the 23rd City Council District in Queens. Alice Hyndman won her election to represent the 29th District of the New York State Assembly, also in Queens. In the two Brooklyn races, Roxanne Persaud won her state Senate election and will represent District 19, and Coney Island activist Pamela Harris won her race for the 46th State Assembly District.

"These are the kind of leaders our labor movement and communities need," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido of the election results. "That's why our union had hundreds of activists pounding the pavement to get our members to the polls and making hundreds of calls in support of these well qualified candidates."

Roxanne Austin and Juliet Maxom were two of those volunteer activists that hit the pavement on behalf of the union-backed candidates. The Local 1549 members, who work at Kings County Hospital, were part of a team that went door-to-door on Coney Island early Tuesday morning to remind everyone to get to the polls.

Political activism is nothing new for the veteran volunteers, who usually team up during election season. "We always go out together to support our union," Austin said.

To find out how to volunteer for DC 37's election army, call the Political Action and Legislation Dept. at 212-815-1550.