Phillips, Haber receive labor union backing in state Senate race

Both candidates vying to win the election to replace outgoing state Sen. Jack Martins in the 7th state Senate district received prominent union endorsements this week.
Democrat Adam Haber, a commodities trader-turned-restaurateur and Roslyn school board trustee, received an endorsement Monday from the New York State AFL-CIO, which is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector and building trades unions that represent 2.5 million members, retirees and their families, according to its website.
Republican Elaine Phillips received the endorsement Tuesday of a grassroots union that represents state and local government employees and public service retirees.
Haber said the endorsement was proof of his campaign’s efforts to bring new ideas and leadership to the state Legislature.
“Receiving the New York State AFL-CIO endorsement continues our campaign’s strong momentum to deliver new leadership for Nassau County,” Haber said. “As state senator I will champion tax cuts for families and businesses, promote greater equality and opportunities for hardworking women and ensure that Long Island schools get their fair share of funding.”
The New York State AFL-CIO also endorsed Democrat Anthony D’Urso in his race against Republican Matt Varvaro for outgoing state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel’s 16th Assembly District seat.
“All of these candidates understand the priorities of working men and women,” Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, said in a statement. “They are committed to fighting hard for issues important to working people which is why we will fight hard to get them elected.”
Haber is also running on the Working Families and Women’s Equality Party lines.
Local 1000 of the Civil Service Employees Association announced that it would support Phillips rather than her opponent.
“We need elected officials who will fight to maintain good jobs that benefit our communities. CSEA knows that building strong communities starts with good economic and tax policies that benefit everyone as opposed to just those at the top,” said Danny Donohue, president of the CSEA, Local 1000.  “We are proud to support Elaine Phillips for New York State Senate and are confident that she will stand with working people to make New York a better state.”
Phillips, who currently serves as mayor of the Village of Flower Hill, has focused on job creation and economic growth, as well as calling for government ethics reforms while campaigning.
She said that her “youngest days” working in a “mill town” led her to respect hardworking men and women and that she appreciated the endorsement from CSEA, Local 1000.
“The dedicated and hardworking men and women who make up our state and local government workforces helped build our communities, and they continue to work every single day to make them places that we are proud to call home,” Phillips said. “I am grateful for their support and, as senator, will work to help to ensure that every hardworking New Yorker is treated fairly and with respect, that seniors and retirees can afford to continue to live in communities that they helped build, and that the next generations can enjoy even greater opportunity and success on Long Island.”
As well as running on the Republican line, she is running on the Independence, Conservative and Reform Party lines.
Reach reporter Joe Nikic by e-mail at jnikic@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @joenikic and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.