STAUNCH SUPPORTERS — Alan Schulkin, Nithia Chatterjie, Anton Trapman and Pat Baker call potential voters on behalf of Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. — Photo by Olubiyi Sehindemi
Members speak out, turn out for Clinton, others
PEF plugs its political power into Campaign 2000 races
By SHERRY HALBROOK
PEF’s political-action engine built up a full head of steam in October as members all over the state took time to get involved in national, state and local campaigns.
Many members gave Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the US Senate a priority.
“I think it’s important to increase the influence of PEF by being involved in these key contests,” said PEF Region 8 Political Action Chair Lou Matrazzo. “To be viable in the political process we need to be visible.”
For Matrazzo, that has meant phoning PEF members to urge their support of Hillary, and putting up lawn signs around Albany and the Capital District on her behalf.
Why Hillary?
But is Matrazzo just backing Hillary, because PEF endorsed her?
“Not at all,” he says. “I like the policies she’s talking about, and I think the idea of a First Lady serving as one of our US senators is an exciting prospect.”
Much is often made of the differences between Upstate and Downstate politics. But you’d never know it from talking with PEF activists.
Alan Schulkin and Nithia Chatterjie, who co-chair the PEF Region 11 Political Action Committee in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island, are also staunch Hillary supporters.
“Hillary is good on health-care issues, and I think she would be the right person to get Medicare coverage of prescription drugs passed in the Senate,” Schulkin says.
Chatterjie is an equally impassioned Hillary backer.
“We should support Hillary because of the things we stand for,” Chatterjie says.
“Look at what’s needed in New York state,” says the research scientist. “We need someone in the Senate who is supportive of public services. She has a good record of supporting what we need. Her opponent has not voted for the things that New York state needs, and many of the organizations that support him are not supportive of public service.”
Chatterjie is worried about Lazio’s votes to dismantle the US Education Department and to undercut other public services.
“There is a role for the federal government. We need checks and balances,” Chatterjie says.
Schulkin agrees.
“I’d like to see the Democrats retake control of the US Senate,” Schulkin says. “I don’t feel that the Republican majority and Sen. Trent Lott’s leadership have been good for New York state.
“It’s not that I dislike (Rick) Lazio. I just think he would feel compelled to vote with the Republican leadership,” Schulkin adds.
PEF Region 11 Coordinator Pat Baker is another member donating her time to Hillary’s campaign.
“I’m supporting Hillary because I think that working families are what her agenda is all about,” Baker says.
“She’s committed to improving healthcare and education, so I’m working hard on her campaign,” says Baker.
State legislative races
In western New York, PEF Region 1 Coordinator Joyce Degenhardt and member Gary Heuck are working to elect Democrat Francine Delmonte to her first term in the state Assembly representing the 138th District in Niagara County.
“This would be Francine’s first term in the Assembly, but she is no stranger to the Legislature,” Degenhardt says. “She has 20 years of experience as a legislative aide in Albany — 18 years with former Assembly Member Joseph Pillittere, and the last two years with Assembly Member Paul Tokasz.
“Delmonte has 20 years of experience and expertise in dealing with our issues and in working within the legislative system in Albany. And as a member of the majority party in the Assembly, she would have an advantage over the Republican incumbent,” Degenhardt says.
And Degenhardt believes Delmonte will be responsive to the public-service issues that matter so much to PEF members.
Back in New York City, Chatterjie and Schulkin see things much the way Degenhardt does in the west.
“I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, but I support Republicans who support our issues,” says Chatterjie who is also making time to work for the re-election campaigns of both Staten Island state Assembly Member Eric Vitaliano, a Democrat, and Republican state Sen. Frank Padavan of Queens.
“I see a clear distinction between the kind of Republicans in Congress who are ready and willing to shut down government and those in the state Legislature who support the issues that PEF supports,” Chatterjie says.
“I am working with Bernie Kahn and Ann Marie Delinikolaou on Vitaliano’s campaign,” Chatterjie says. “We’re calling PEF members for him and I am to going door-to-door for him. I’ve known him for 20 years. He’s worth doing this for. Vitaliano has done very well for us on pensions and other issues.”
And, somehow, Chatterjie is still finding time to help put up lawn signs for Padavan’s campaign in Queens.
“Frank Padavan is a very decent Republican senator from downstate. He always considers what is in the best interest of his constituents,” Chatterjie adds. “I can’t remember even one instance when he has failed to support PEF members on our most important issues.”
PEF’s got the power
PEF Vice President Ken Brynien, who is working hard for the Gore and the Clinton campaigns in PEF Region 4, says he finds the campaign season exhilarating.
“As chair of PEF’s Statewide Political Action Committee, I know how much work goes into interviewing candidates and reviewing their records before the union makes its endorsements,” Brynien says.
“But those endorsements aren’t worth much if we don’t back them up with action and motivate our members and other voters to go to the polls and wisely choose the people who will make the laws and set the policies and priorities we’ll all be living with for years to come,” he says.
Post-primary shuffle
PEF adds six new endorsements
Once the dust settled on primary elections, PEF reviewed the effect on its political endorsements for the November 7 elections and made a few adjustments.
“Only a few changes were necessary because most candidates that we endorsed did not face primary contests, and most of those who were in primary elections prevailed,” said PEF Vice President Ken Brynien, who heads the union’s political action efforts.
Two new endorsements were made in state Senate races.
PEF endorsed Ruth Hassell-Thompson in the 33rd SD (parts of the Bronx and Westchester County) after she defeated Samuel Bea Jr. in a primary election for the Democratic ticket.
Out in Niagara and Erie Counties in the 57th SD, the union threw its support behind Democratic primary winner, Byron Brown.
After Ryland Gaines of Suffolk County was knocked off the Democratic primary ballot in the 5th Assembly District and incumbent Edward Griffith of Brooklyn lost the Democratic primary in the 40th AD, PEF chose to make no new endorsements in those districts this year.
In three other state Assembly districts, PEF reviewed its options after the primaries and endorsed:
• Brooklyn Democrat Steve Cymbrowitz in the 45th AD;
• Staten Island Democrat John Lavelle in the 59th AD; and
• Manhattan Democrat Adam Clayton Powell in the 68th AD.
PEF also decided to back Republican Robert Oaks in the 128th AD, which includes Wayne and Seneca Counties.
For PEF’s other endorsements, see the October Communicator.
— Sherry Halbrook