ALBANY, N.Y. June 20, 2016 — New York State United Teachers today endorsed Assembly member Deborah J. Glick, D-Manhattan, for re-election and backed Monica Wallace for the soon-to-be open 143rd District Assembly seat in suburban Buffalo.
The union’s Board of Directors voted to approve the two early endorsements, providing important momentum to Glick — a long-time champion of public higher education — and Wallace, who is seeking to replace Angela Wozniak, who is leaving the Assembly.
“I can think of no greater advocate for SUNY, CUNY and our community colleges in the Assembly than Debra Glick. She has been an amazing champion of students and public higher education and we are pleased to again endorse her re-election,” said NYSUT President Karen E. Magee. “In the 143rd Assembly District, we are excited to support Monica Wallace — a candidate with impeccable credentials who also happens to be a SUNY Buffalo faculty member and a parent of two public school children. We are confident that she will fight for public schools and colleges, and we are thrilled to be throwing our support behind her candidacy.”
NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta said Glick has been a “true friend to students and public higher education and a strong voice for what SUNY and CUNY need to continue to thrive.” Pallotta said that in a legislative session that included discussions about ethics, “We believe that Monica Wallace will serve with integrity in Albany.”
Pallotta said NYSUT’s board, political action committees and other leaders will take up additional endorsements at the union’s regular endorsement conference, Aug. 8-9.
“In these cases, Debra Glick and Monica Wallace have earned early endorsements that will enable them to build strength as we approach the primary and general elections,” Pallotta said. “We are proud to be able to support their candidacies with the financial support and volunteers they need to be victorious in their elections.”
Pallotta said thousands of NYSUT volunteers will be working phone banks, handing out literature and going door to door on behalf of union-endorsed candidates throughout the summer and fall, leading up to the Nov. 8 general election.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.