The Communications Workers of America have reprised its 2005 endorsement of Assemblyman Richard Brodsky for state attorney general, throwing its support to the Westchester Democrat’s second attempt at statewide office this fall.

In a statement released by the Brodsky campaign, CWA District One Vice President Chris Shelton said the assemblyman “stands out in a crowded field of candidates,” adding:

“He has compiled an outstanding record of accomplishment on reform of State government, workers’ rights, property tax fairness, minimum wage, educational opportunity, worker’s compensation, living wage, and health care.”

“His principles are clear and his skills in translating those principles into real legislative achievements are unique.”

Shelton also specifically cited Brodsky’s fight to stop Verizon from selling its upstate phone network, push to force the Public Service Commission to enforce telephone service quality standards, and campaign for “universal, affordable telecommunications service for all New Yorkers.”

(CWA represents 75,000 telecommunications, public health care, media and manufacturing workers statewide).

The union threw its support behind Brodsky’s first AG bid very early, announcing its endorsement of him a full year before the AG race heated up. By May 2006, Brodsky had dropped out of that race in hopes of donating a kidney to his daughter. (It turned out that his own health problems, since addressed, prevented him from doing so).

Brodsky assured me during a recent “Capital Tonight” interview that he is in perfect health and plans to see his current AG campaign all the way through to the end.

CWA is a big player in the Working Families Party. Its legislative and political director, Bob Master, is a WFP co-chair. At this point, labor does not have a favorite AG candidate. Another WFP heavyweight, SEIU/1199, has endorsed Sen. Eric Schneiderman.

Brodsky’s press release announcing the CWA endorsement says it comes on the heels of “recent high profile
endorsements of Congressmen (Maurice) Hinchey and (Paul) Tonko over the weekend. He makes no mention (naturally) of his last-place showing in the DRC straw poll.

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