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Political Briefs 02.20.20

Wed, 02/19/2020 - 23:21

Four for Goroff

Representatives Lois Frankel of Florida, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Jerry McNerney of California, and Bill Foster of Illinois have endorsed Nancy Goroff, a professor and chairwoman of Stony Brook University’s chemistry department who is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Representative Lee Zeldin in New York’s First Congressional District.

Ms. Goroff, who is on leave from Stony Brook during her campaign, was previously endorsed by Suffolk County Legislator and Deputy Presiding Officer Kara Hahn; the former Legislator Kate Browning, a 2018 candidate for the Democrats’ nomination to face Mr. Zeldin; 314 Action, which works to elect scientists, and Emily’s List, a political action committee that works to help elect pro-choice female Democratic candidates.     

“I’m proud to receive the endorsement from Representatives Frankel, Schakowsky, McNerney, and Foster, four members of Congress whom I admire and who have been highly effective in promoting an inclusive and progressive agenda in Congress,” Ms. Goroff said in a statement issued on Feb. 12. “I look forward to going to Washington and working alongside these leaders to improve the lives of Suffolk County families.”     

If elected, Ms. Goroff would be the first female Ph.D. scientist ever elected to Congress.

Rice Endorses Fleming     

Representative Kathleen Rice of New York’s Fourth Congressional District has endorsed Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming in her bid for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Lee Zeldin in New York’s First District. Ms. Rice’s endorsement marks the first from the state’s congressional delegation for Ms. Fleming.     

Ms. Rice, elected to Congress in 2014, served as the Nassau County district attorney for almost 10 years. Before that she was a state and federal prosecutor. She serves on the Homeland Security Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in Congress and chairs the Subcommittee on Border Security. Prior to her political career, Ms. Fleming also worked as a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

“Kathleen Rice is a staunch advocate for Long Island families — on issues like the reinstatement of the SALT tax deduction and when it comes to keeping our communities safe,” Ms. Fleming said in a statement issued last week. “And she’s a leader in the fight to make sure we elect more women to Congress. I’m so excited to have her join our team as we get ready to take the fight to Lee Zeldin, who’s deserted our district and instead focused his time in Washington on defending President Trump. This district needs to turn the tide and I’m honored to have leaders like Kathleen on my side saying I’m the only one ready to do that.”

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr.; DuWayne Gregory, a Suffolk County legislator and former presiding officer; its current presiding officer, Rob Calarco; County Legislators Al Krupski, Tom Donnelly, Dr. William Spencer, and Sam Gonzalez; East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc; Shelter Island Supervisor Gerard Siller, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25 have endorsed Ms. Fleming’s campaign.

Supervisors for Schiavoni

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, and Shelter Island Supervisor Gerry Siller have endorsed Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni’s bid for the New York State Senate seat being vacated by Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, who is retiring.

Mr. Schiavoni, who is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for state senator, has opened a campaign office in Port Jefferson.

Mr. Schiavoni “is my choice to represent us in the New York State Senate,” Mr. Van Scoyoc said in a statement issued on Sunday. “Here on the East End, there’s nothing more important to us than our beautiful natural environment, especially our water quality. Tommy John and I have worked hard to keep our waters clean and to protect every other part of the East End’s environment. Tommy John advances wise policies across the board, and that’s why I’m supporting him for State Senate.”

“When you work together with someone doing the people’s business, as I have worked together with Tommy John on the Southampton Town Council, you learn a lot about that person’s abilities and priorities,” Mr. Schneiderman said in the same statement. “I know from this direct day-to-day experience that Tommy John Schiavoni has the talent and the energy to make an outstanding state senator.”

“What people do in and for their community tells us what we need to know about their suitability for public office,” Mr. Siller said in the statement. “Tommy John’s life in education, as well as his service with the Sag Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and Sag Harbor Board of Education, and now his work on the Southampton Town Council, all demonstrate that devotion to the common good, which is just what we need in a state senator.”   


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