FA President Kevin Peterman, right, participates in a labor walk with FA Grievance Officer Kevin McCoy for Perry Gershon (candidate for Congressional District 1) and Monica Martinez (candidate for State Senate). The FA also thanks other members who participated in labor walks this fall: Alex Atwood, Joan Cook, Marcial Gallimore, Dante Morelli and Kim Ng Southard. (photo by Ryan Stanton)

Election Day is November 6, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

There are key congressional races right here in Suffolk County.

In the 1st Congressional District (CD), Perry Gershon is challenging incumbent Lee Zeldin.

In the 2nd CD, incumbent Peter King is being challenged by Liuba Grechen Shirley.

In the 3rd CD, (which includes a portion of Suffolk County) incumbent Tom Suozzi has a proven record supporting our values and deserves our support so he can return to Washington D.C. next year.

The outcome of these Congressional District elections will have a significant impact on the makeup of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

If we truly believe in the union values we have stated, as printed on the FA calendar, we need to elect candidates who support these values.

On the state level, the stakes are just as high. We need to elect labor and pro-public education representatives to the New York State Senate and Assembly. Several former and current Suffolk County legislators are on the ballot this year.

	Perry Gershon (left), candidate for Congressional District 1, and Monica Martinez (second from left), candidate for State Senate, speak to volunteers during a labor walk. (photo by Ryan Stanton)

I believe this is important because they have had a proven record which supports our values and they know our issues.

In the 3rd Senate District (SD), current Suffolk County Legislator Monica Martinez is looking to fill the open seat.

In the 4th SD, former legislator Lou D’Amaro is running.

In the 5th SD, Jim Gaughran is seeking the seat.

In the Assembly these former Suffolk County legislators are seeking re-election:

In the 1st Assembly District (AD), Fred Thiele

In the 4th AD, Steve Englebright

In the 10th AD, Steve Stern

Also seeking re-election in the 9th AD is Christine Pellegrino, a former teacher who has a strong commitment to our core values.

To learn which candidates have earned NYSUT’s endorsement, click the graphic below and/or view the full list of General Election Endorsements on NYSUT's website.

FA President Kevin Peterman participates in the annual NYSUT Endorsements Conference in August. The full list of NYSUT endorsements in this year's general election is available on the NYSUT website.

The Faculty Association only makes endorsements in Suffolk County races. For state and national elections NYSUT, our state federation, makes the endorsements. Every president of a NYSUT local was invited to the endorsement conference this past August to participate in the two-day process. While not every local participates, I was in Albany representing the FA in this important process.

Please vote on Tuesday, November 6, and encourage your students and family members to VOTE like their future depends on it—because it does!

ACTIVISM WORKS!