LI labor group: Suffolk Dem for 6th district

The Long Island Federation of Labor has weighed in on the special county legislature election for the seat formerly held by new Assemb. Dan Losquadro. And they have decided to back Democratic newcomer Sarah Anker.

Roger Clayman, the Fed’s executive director, said the labor coalition, which represents 200 locals with 250,000 members, unanimously backed Anker against former Legis. Martin Haley, because “of the general climate where Republican Party has not been a friend to organized labor” nationally. He also said that there is concern that local Republicans tried to oust former labor leader, William Lindsay as the county legislature’s presiding officer.

John Jay LaValle, Suffolk GOP chairman, lashed out at the endorsementas a major mistake. “The Long Island Fed also went with Brian Foley," said LaValle. adding the group is backing “liberal Democrats who are hugging the trees, stopping all the projects and putting people out of work.” He said the Fed should back Republicans who “will put them back to work.”

Clayman said the Fed has several thousand members plus their families in the sixth district and expects that their stand will have an impact in the low turnout March 29 balloting, despite the GOP enrollment edge in the district.