On a chilly Thursday morning, over a dozen supporters of Laura Curran, Democratic nominee for Nassau County executive, gathered amongst the Halloween decorations in the front yard of Curran’s house to watch her receive the endorsement of Sen. Chuck Schumer.
“I am here today to throw my support to someone who has done a great job in her community and in the 5th District of Nassau as a county legislator,” Schumer said.
Curran had previously expressed her gratitude for the senator’s support.
“I am truly honored to stand here with Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has been such a strong and unwavering champion for our country and our state,” Curran said. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence in me.”
During the press conference in front of Curran’s home in Baldwin, which lasted for only about a quarter of an hour, Curran gave some familiar remarks about why change is needed in Nassau County and promised to clean out the corruption in county government.
“I know that we can chart a new path forward for Nassau County,” she said. “I believe that with the right leadership here in Nassau, and strong federal partners like Sen. Schumer, we can create a government that lives up to the greatness of the people who live here.”
She also praised the work that Schumer had done in Washington to prevent President Donald Trump from implementing his agenda.
“Senator Schumer is leading the fight against Trump’s tax plan that would be catastrophic for Nassau County residents and homeowners, essentially forcing us to pay the property tax twice,” she said.
Schumer, in turn, praised Curran and promised that she would work to help benefit the middle class of the county.
“I was raised in a neighborhood just like this one,” he said. “I saw middle class people struggling, and all too often government ignored them… and it’s been my mission, all the years I was an elected official, to work for the middle class and all those struggling to become middle class. And I feel I have a kindred soul in Laura Curran because she is exactly the same way.”
After he arrived, Schumer spent a couple minutes speaking privately with Curran while onlookers snapped photos. After the endorsement, Schumer made his way around the small group that had served as a backdrop, speaking with residents and taking pictures.
Curran has received endorsements from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but Schumer represents the highest-profile endorsement thus far. His work opposing Trump has made him one of the top-ranking Democrats in the country.
With both of New York’s senators in Congress coming from the Democratic Party, Republican nominee for executive Jack Martins will not receive a similar endorsement.
But he has received endorsements from state officials like former Governor George E. Pataki and is also backed by local unions like the Civil Service Employees Association.
