Back Him for AG

State AFL-CIO In Cuomo's Corner

By REUVEN BLAU

DENIS M. HUGHES: Cuomo respects us.

The State AFL-CIO Aug. 14 endorsed Andrew Cuomo for State Attorney General, citing his "life-long commitment to fight for working- and middle-class families." Mr. Cuomo, who has received broad union support, thanked the largest state labor federation in the country for its backing. "Today is an extraordinary day for our campaign," he said in a statement. "I am honored and humbled to have the support of the AFL-CIO, which has been such a strong voice for millions of hard-working men and women who make New York the greatest state."

'Worked for Our Backing'

State AFL-CIO President Denis M. Hughes said Mr. Cuomo worked hard to receive the endorsement. "He met with all of the major sectors of the labor movement, public, private, entertainment, manufacturing," Mr. Hughes remarked during an Aug. 17 phone interview. "He really worked for the support of the labor movement in this campaign."

The federation leader added that Mr. Cuomo "respected the needs and the desire of these unions to participate fully in the formation of issues."

The AFL-CIO last week also endorsed U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, Democratic Lieut. Governor nominee David Patterson, and State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi at the federation's biennial political convention, held in the Desmond Hotel in Albany.

Mr. Cuomo has not garnered the backing of all the unions. The American Federation of Governmental Employees Housing and Urban Development Council has charged that Mr. Cuomo outsourced thousands of housing inspector jobs as the U.S. Housing Secretary during the Clinton administration.

Cuomo's Defense

Council President Carolyn Federoff voted against endorsing Mr. Cuomo for any election. Mr. Cuomo has denied the anti-union accusation and maintained that he had a close working relationship with Ms. Federoff's predecessor, who has publicly supported him.

Mr. Hughes was quick to point out that the AFGE Housing Development group only represents approximately 5,000 workers. "Andrew Cuomo had 80 percent of the vote," he noted.

Mr. Cuomo has already received the endorsement of the Civil Service Employees' Association and Local 1199 of the Service Employees' International Union. But the Public Employees' Federation has endorsed former city Public Advocate Mark J. Green's long-shot bid for Attorney General, citing his past advocacy on behalf of its city members. PEF, which is a member of the AFL-CIO, abstained during last week's vote.

Stirring Interest

The state AFL-CIO will coordinate a statewide grassroots campaign to educate members regarding the endorsement and other races, the federation said. The campaign will include member mailings, worksite flyers, phone bank operations, and a "labor-to-neighbor" program, which involves union members visiting colleagues in other areas to discuss the election.

According to the AFL-CIO, polls have shown that 80 percent of the federation's members support the candidates the organization endorses.

The unions representing Police Officers, Detectives, and Sergeants have also backed Mr. Cuomo, citing his aggressive stance on gun control as the former U.S. HUD Secretary. Mr. Cuomo has proposed a comprehensive plan to fight gun violence, which includes using new technology to prevent firearms from being used by criminals.

During his time in the Clinton cabinet, Mr. Cuomo helped negotiate the Safe Gun Agreement. That deal, which was later voided under pressure from the National Rifle Association, required Smith and Wesson to change the design, distribution and marketing of handguns to make them safer and to help keep them away from children and criminals.

His new five-point plan on guns mirrors some of the far-reaching initiatives that Mayor Bloomberg has made a staple of his second term.

Leading the Pack

Mr. Cuomo is the frontrunner in the race to replace Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who is running for Governor. Also running are Charlie King, a two-time candidate for Lieutenant Governor; and Sean P. Maloney, a former aide to President Clinton.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Jeanine Pirro, the former Westchester County District Attorney. A new poll from Siena College's Research Institute showed that Mr. Cuomo leads Ms. Pirro 50 percent to 35 percent. A June poll from the Albany-based institute, however, had Mr. Cuomo leading Ms. Pirro 54 percent to 28 percent. Mr. Cuomo first came to prominence as a top aide during his father's successful 1982 campaign for Governor. He then joined the elder Cuomo's staff as one of his head policy advisers. Under former Mayor David Dinkins, he served as Chairman of the New York City Homeless Commission, which worked to develop more affordable housing options.

He ran for Governor in 2002, but dropped out before the primary in favor of former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, who was strongly favored by state Democratic leaders.