Queens officials and candidates pledge reform in Albany
Posted on July 22, 2010 by Anna Gustafson in Assembly, Congress, District 10, District 11, District 13, District 14, District 15, District 16, District 22, District 23, District 24, District 26, District 28, District 36, District 38, U.S. House
A bevy of Queens politicians and candidates for public office have thrown their support behind former Mayor Ed Koch’s coalition to reform Albany.
Senators, Assembly and Congress members and those running for those positions have signed pledges on Wednesday by New York Uprising, a non-partisan, independent group formed by Koch that has a mission to “end corruption in Albany and reinstate the public’s faith in government by offering real, honest and sensible solutions that legislators and candidates can implement, adhere to and be held accountable for executing once elected or re-elected to office.”
New York Uprising has actively sought support for commitments to reform from all candidates seeking office during the 2010 election cycle. Queens state Senators who have signed the pledge include Sens. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica), Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights), Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), and Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone). Senate candidates who have signed it include Tony Avella, a Democrat running against Padavan; Anthony Como, a Republican running for Addabbo’s seat; Lynn Nunes, a Democrat running against Huntley; Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who is running for the seat being vacated by the retiring George Onorato; and Isaac Sasson, a Democrat running for Stavisky’s seat.
Assembly members who have signed it include Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), Grace Meng (D-Flushing), Michael Miller (D-Glendale), and Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach). Assembly candidates who have signed it include Steve Behar, a Democrat running for Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza’s seat; Joe Fox, a Democrat running against Hevesi; Bob Friedrich, a Democrat running against state Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck); Alex Powietrzynski, a Republican running for Hevesi’s seat; Aravella Simotas, a Democrat running for the seat being vacated by Gianaris; and Vince Tabone, a Republican in the race for Carrozza’s seat. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) and her Democratic opponent Reshma Saujani signed the pledge as well
Joining Koch in his effort to stop what he called the downward spiral of New York politics are Citizens Union director Dick Dady, former city Parks Commissioner and New York Civic Director Henry Stern; and a number of other officials including former Gov. Mario Cuomo and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
