Archive: News

Nate ShinagawaIn a well-attended meeting on May 17, the County Democratic Party gave a strong endorsement to County Legislator Nate Shinagawa for Congress in the race in the newly-formed 23rd Congressional District.  Members said they felt that they had excellent candidates in Shinagawa, Leslie Danks Burke, and Melissa Dobson, but gave the majority of their votes to Shinagawa on the basis of his public record on issues such as regional economic development and support of Medicare and health care access as well as his anti-fracking stance.

"It was particularly meaningful to receive the endorsement from the committee from the county that I call home and the community I serve," Shinagawa said yesterday. "And today Matt Zeller, who ran against Tom Reed in 2010, announced that he is endorsing me because he knows that I have what it takes to win."

Danks Burke received over half the number of votes that Nathan Shinagawa did from the Tompkins County Democratic Committee at their endorsement meeting. Danks Burke received 42 votes, while Shinagawa received 82.

"I had no expectation of winning this endorsement. It makes sense that Tompkins County would endorse its own elected representative," Danks Burke said. "That the Tompkins County Democratic Committee awarded me over half as many votes as they awarded their own legislator is a very positive outcome for my campaign."

The primary will be on June 26.

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton was unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed for re-election on the basis of her leadership in the Assembly on verifiable voting machines, anti-fracking, and progressive taxation, among many other issues.

Howard Lieb, Esq., of Dryden was also unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed in his run against Jim Seward in the 51st State Senate District.  Citing Seward's failure of leadership on many issues important to residents, Lieb said he felt it necessary and important for a Democratic challenger to come forward to support the people of the district.

The Committee also endorsed incumbent State Committee members Lori Gardner and Peter Stein for re-election.

v8i20