Jeanine Pirro, the Republican candidate for state Attorney General, has picked up the endorsement of Suffolk County’s largest union, the Association of Municipal Employees, and nine law enforcement unions throughout Long Island.
“The Committee felt you brought comprehensive ideas to us for consideration and therefore earned the AME’s endorsement,” wrote union president Cheryl A. Felice in a letter. The group represents 8,500 county workers including nurses and civilian and support staff for the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and the Suffolk County Office of Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services (FRES).
AME’s endorsement serves as a counterweight to that of the Civil Service Employees Association Inc., which has backed Democrat Andrew Cuomo.
Pirro also received the endorsement of the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs PBA. “We’re endorsing Jeanine Pirro for her steadfast commitment to law enforcement and her experience in getting the job done. We are confident that she’s the right person to keep sexual predators off our streets and keep our children safe,” said Michael Sharkey, the union’s president.
The deputy sheriffs’ group was joined by unions representing Suffolk detectives, superior officers Association, corrections and probation officers and the Suffolk County Police Conference, in backing Pirro. She also is supported by the Nassau County Superior Officers Association, the Nassau County Detectives and the Nassau County Sheriffs Association.
Meanwhile upstate, Cuomo added to his hefty list of endorsements with the backing of Council 82 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents prison guards, forest rangers, state park police and other law enforcement in the Albany area.
“Andrew Cuomo has been a champion for law enforcement throughout his career, and it is clear that he is far and away the most qualified for the job,” said union president James Lyman. “We are proud to join the vast majority of law enforcement groups - from Westchester to Buffalo to Albany - lining up to stand with Andrew Cuomo.”
James T. Madore