To the list of interests signing on to try to oust Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. add SEIU/1199 and 32 BJ.
The two unions announced earlier today that they’re backing one of the Bronx Democrat’s primary challengers, Gustavo Rivera, in the upcoming Sept. 14 election.
“Albany needs leaders who put the interests of working New Yorkers ahead of politics and power plays,” said 32BJ President Mike Fishman.
“As someone who pledges to uphold the high standards we should expect from our public servants, we are proud to support Gustavo Rivera.”
…and from 1199 President George Gresham:
“This district deserves honest leadership, and we believe Gustavo Rivera will be a true voice for reform rather than an obstacle for change. Gustavo is a friend and a champion of working families; we know he will serve the community with honor and distinction. Our members are excited and ready to get Gustavo to Albany.”
The unions’ joint release notes they worked together to elect four “progressive” candidates to the NYC Council last fall – Fernando Cabrera, (whose district is in the Espada’s 33rd SD), Brooklyn’s Jumaane Williams, Queens’ Danny Dromm and Staten Islands’ Debi Rose.
All of those Council members also were backed by the Working Families Party, which has also endorsed Rivera against Espada.
This isn’t a big surprise, particularly since Rivera comes out of SEIU. In 2008, he worked with the union in Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Puerto Rico in helping then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama land the Democratic nomination in the presidential election.
Rivera went on to work for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, heading up outreach in her NYC office.
Gillibrand has a long history with 1199. Shortly after she defeated incumbent GOP Rep. John Sweeney the 2006 NY-20 race, she stood with the union during its first budget battle with then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer over Medicaid cuts, earning her the former governor’s wrath.
