Two 110th Assembly District candidates received political backing after local political committees announced their endorsements for the crowded race.
Phil Steck, D-Colonie, clinched the Colonie Democratic Committee endorsement and the New York State Working Families Party endorsement. His opponents Kevin Frazier and Tim Nichols are also Democrats and Colonie residents.
“Our committee members take their job very seriously, they work extremely hard and they want an Assembly member who will work as hard as they do,” said Rich Jacobson, an Albany County legislator and chairman of the Colonie Democratic Committee.
Jacobson said Steck’s “many years of service to the party and past successes in campaigns” drove the vote for endorsement.
The Schenectady County Democratic Committee voted unanimously to endorse Niskayuna Town Supervisor Joe Landry.
“Joe Landry is a proven leader,” said Schenectady County Democratic Chairman Brian Quail. “Joe will bring that same level of commitment to the State Assembly to increase economic opportunities and create jobs, ensure a quality public education for our children and fight to ensure our communities get their fair share of state aid.”
Jennifer Whalen, the sole Republican candidate, was endorsed by the Schenectady County Republican Committee.
The newly redrawn 110th Assembly district includes the Towns of Colonie and Niskayuna and a portion of the City of Schenectady. Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Loudonville, announced he would not seek reelection earlier this year. Reilly represented the 109th Assembly District pre-redistricting.
Steck said he was grateful to have the support of both committees and access to the opportunities they provide.
“The committee has played an instrumental role in our party’s success in electing Bob Reilly to State Assembly. In order to be successful in this type of race you have to join both your campaign organization and what it does with the grassroots support that the committee give you on the ground and that’s what we’re in a position to do,” said Steck.
Steck said he’s in the petitioning portion of the campaign, a phase where committee support can be extremely helpful.
“Committee members will carry petitions and get the signatures you need,” said Steck, who said he also has “authorization” from the Independence Party. “We’re out doing all the petitions for those three parties.”
He said one reason he believes he’s received so much committee support is because of the “potential to run on two additional lines.”
According to Elric Kline, Capital District Organizer for the WFP, it was Steck’s grassroots experience and qualifications that made him a good choice for endorsement.
“I have known Phil Steck for many years and he has always been a tireless advocate for civil rights, equal rights and economic justice,” said Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action, a group affiliated with the WFP, in a statement.
Steck, who is in his fourth term with the Albany County Legislature, said if elected he wants to focus on education and senior care, specifically at the Albany County nursing home. He’s hanging his hat on having no state-level government experience, saying it will enable him to better serve his constituents.
“I pretty much come from the grassroots of the Democrat party. I never worked for the Assembly in any capacity or the Senate and I think that gives me an excellent perspective,” said Steck. “I think my loyalty will be solely to the voters.”
Landry, who said the Schenectady County Democratic Committee’s support would be “crucial” to his campaign, listed “reductions in state aid across the board” as at top on his priority list should he win the seat.
“Right now is a critical time as far as many issues surfacing throughout the town, throughout the state regarding state aid. This district that we’re in, there’s a lot of reductions in state aid in different areas that are impacting our schools, our municipalities, and I think I can hopefully make a difference and work on the state level,” said Landry.
Nichols is an Albany County legislator in his fourth term and has served as Reilly’s chief of staff since 2005. Frazier most recently worked under Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari and received early endorsements from Reilly and Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan.
