Elinor Tatum
As this year’s election season is gearing up, candidates seeking the endorsement of the New York Amsterdam News made their annual pilgrimage to the endorsement meetings. The meetings, all held in one day, saw the likes of senatorial, congressional and gubernatorial hopefuls to young men and women running for public office for the first time.
At this point in time, the Amsterdam News is only releasing endorsements for the primary elections. If a candidate does not have a primary, you will not see them mentioned until our final round of endorsements come later in the year.
Here are our picks for the 2010 primary election
State Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman
There are five candidates trying to replace Andrew Cuomo as he seeks the governor’s mansion: lawyer Sean Coffey, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Insurance Commissioner Eric Dinallo and State Senator Eric Schneiderman.
Overall, the editorial board found this to be a good group of candidates. Richard Brodsky would to transform the attorney general’s office to a place where the average New Yorker would be involved. Kathleen Rice emphasized the local work she has done to build relationships with local politicians in Hempstead and other Nassau County communities. And Sean Coffey has a strong military background that almost landed him a top spot in the Obama administration. Eric Dinallo was a key player in Elliot Spitzer’s attorney general’s office and worked on bringing Wall Street cheats to justice.
But the overall choice of the board was Eric Schneiderman. Schneiderman has been a stalwart defender of the rights for our community. For years, Schneiderman has served the community and the state on many levels. Right out of college, as a deputy sheriff, he started the first comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program at the local jail.
He later attended Harvard Law School and then clerked for two years in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He worked in a private law practice for several years, where he represented advocacy and public interest groups before he decided to go back into public service, where he has sat as a New York State Senator since 1998.
While in the State Senate, Schneiderman has been instrumental in passing legislation that directly affects the lives of our community. From A Clinic Access Bill to the legislation to increase the minimum wage, to his most recent legislation focusing on how inmates in upstate penitentiaries were counted by the United States Census, he has been there fighting for us.
As attorney general, Schneiderman says he will to bring real reform to the state. One of these reforms is an innocence unit within the criminal division that, when appropriate, will examine prior convictions to ensure that justice is done.
He will work to protect the environment and make sure that our water is safe, starting with preventing dangerous gas drilling upstate until the methods are proven safe.
He will endeavor to protect the people of the state by reforming unfair market practices in the financial sector while, at the same time, ensuring faith in our own public sector.
His agenda is too numerous to go into in its entirety, but it is aggressive and ambitious. If anyone can accomplish these goals, it is Eric Schneiderman, and that is why the New York Amsterdam News endorses him for attorney general.
U.S. Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand was thrown onto the statewide scene in what some look at as a total political debacle. She was a local congresswoman with little statewide experience and even less recognition. She was appointed to the position of senator by Governor David Paterson after then-Senator Hillary Clinton was appointed to become U.S. secretary of state.
She came in with mixed reviews but, slowly, she has proven to be a diligent and quick learner and is quickly distinguishing herself has the state’s junior senator.
Her position on key issues have been on point, and we see her as having a keen grasp of the needs of our communities and how to address them.
She came in on the correct side of the issues when it came to our community. She now has a keen understanding of what some of the needs are of our communities and how to address them.
Gillibrand has committed herself to investing in job creation across the state, finding unique ways to replace jobs that have left the state with new industries with a true commitment to renewable energy and has pushed for a nationwide effort to rebuild our infrastructure. Her plan also calls for retraining and retooling of our manufacturers to produce new sources of clean, homegrown energy to fuel our economy for the new century.
Through those initiatives, there will be greater investment in New York’s world-class universities and research institutions to develop new technologies to turn our natural resources into renewable fuel. Gillibrand is also pushing for training more teachers in the areas of math and science to ensure the next generation will keep America competitive.
And to keep America and the state competitive, you also need a healthy state. That is why she knows that reforming our healthcare system and investing in education are critical to the long-term health of the economy.
Kirsten Gillibrand has a vision for New York. She has a vision for the future of our children, and she understands that people of color are a critical and unique part of the future. That is why the New York Amsterdam News endorses Kirsten Gillibrand for United States senator.
Congress: 15th Congressional District
Charles B. Rangel
Charles B. Rangel has served the 15th Congressional District for 38 years as its congressman. He is the dean of the New York State delegation and one of the most senior congressmen of the august House of Representatives. At the ripe young age of 80, Rangel can still outpace his younger counterparts. His Empowerment Zone legislation has stood the test of years and continues to help communities across this city and this country.
Recent events have taken some time away from the business at hand for the congressman, however this has not stopped him from continuing his legacy of commitment and work toward helping his beloved New York.
While Rangel no longer chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee, he still has the stature to create change and to ensure the wellbeing of our communities. He has been a great fighter for all. of us and as he continues to be in the trenches, we must continue to fight alongside him.
As for his primary challengers, there are many, from Adam Clayton Powell IV to Joyce Johnson and Vince Morgan, the latter two of whom have both worked for the congressman. Johnson and Morgan are ambitions, but both hold the congressman in the highest of regard. Yet, they are challenging him to better position themselves down the line.
Morgan has worked for the Empowerment Zone, serves as chair of the 125th Street BID and is a community banker with TD Bank. He has the ambition and the drive to do well in New York City politics. We believe Morgan will do well down the line, but as for our current endorsement, we believe that Congressman Charles B. Rangel continues to be the best person to represent the 15th Congressional District.
That is why once again, the Amsterdam News enthusiastically endorses Charles B. Rangel for congressman on the 15th Congressional District.
Congress: 10th Congressional District
Edolphus Towns
Congressman Ed Towns came to the Amsterdam News editorial meeting straight from a fact-finding mission in Afghanistan. While he had just come from rugged conditions and spent many hours on a plane, the 14-term congressman from Brooklyn takes his national responsibilities seriously as well as his commitment to his community. Towns is chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Towns’ opponent, Kevin Powell, was scheduled to appear before the Amsterdam News Editorial Board, but cancelled on the day of the endorsement meetings.
Because of his diligent congressional service, the Amsterdam News enthusiastically endorses Congressman Towns.
Part II of endorsements next week.