NYSUT Backing Cuomo Bid For Att'y General

NYSUT Backing Cuomo Bid For Att'y General

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The union representing 575,000 state Teachers and other school professionals endorsed Andrew Cuomo in his bid for State Attorney General last week.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow ANDREW CUOMO: Gets educators' nod. "Andrew Cuomo has strong support from our members because he's a strong supporter of our issues," New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi said in a June 27 statement. "We're looking forward to working with the Cuomo campaign."

'The Great Equalizer'

Mr. Cuomo called public education the "great equalizer" in his remarks to the NYSUT executive board and added that he is "100 percent opposed to raising the cap on charter schools, and 100 percent opposed to vouchers," two issues of primary importance to NYSUT.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan B. Lubin said that the union would supply considerable financial and personnel resources to the Cuomo campaign in November.

"NYSUT members know how to campaign, they know how to get the vote out, and then they vote," Mr. Lubin said.

Mr. Cuomo, the former Housing Secretary during the Clinton Administration, was endorsed by the State Democratic Party in May, and is considered the frontrunner in the race for his party's nomination.

He may face a challenge from former Public Advocate Mark Green, who is working to get the signatures necessary to appear on the ballot in the Sept. 12 primary.