Region 12 activists score big in special Assembly race
PEF Region 12 political activists helped push Democrat Marc Alessi to a stunning victory in a special election to represent state Assembly District 1 in Suffolk County.
Alessi is the first Democrat ever elected to represent the district, which lies at the northeastern tip of Long Island. Enrolled Republicans outnumber Dems in the district 40,000 to 25,000.
The win is even more remarkable because the special election was held September 13 during a Republican primary election for local offices.
In his victory speech, Alessi went out of his way to thank PEF for all of its help.
“It was a tremendously wonderful feeling for us when he won,” said PEF Region 12 Coordinator Dee Dodson.
“We campaigned door-to-door for Marc,” Dodson said. “We had lots of volunteers on the phone banks. We called our members and retirees twice, and we sent two mailings to the PEF members and retirees explaining that we endorsed Marc because he’s so supportive of working families and labor issues.”
Alessi will serve the remaining unexpired term of Assembly Member Pat Acampora, a Republican who resigned to accept an appointment to the NYS Public Service Commission, which regulates utility companies. Acampora was a strong supporter of labor and had been consistently endorsed by PEF.
Alessi, who previously worked at the Office of the State Comptroller, garnered 52 percent of the vote, winning 6,125 to 5,562 over Republican Michael Caracciolo who has served for many years in the Suffolk County Legislature.
Alessi’s win brings the total Democratic seats in the state Assembly to 105. The GOP now holds 45 Assembly seats, but has the majority in the state Senate. All seats in the state Legislature will be up for election in November 2006.
— Sherry Halbrook
The
Communicator October 05
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