Exec. Dir. Lillian Roberts (r.) and PAC Chair Lenny Allen distribute campaign literature near City Hall.

By Diane S. Williams

DC 37 went all the way with H. Carl McCall on Primary Day, Sept. 10. Union activists helped him win 86 percent of the vote and become the Democratic Party candidate for governor of New York in the Nov. 5 election.

"We mounted a substantial campaign of educating our members on the issues and they made the right choice in voting booths across New York City," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

Overall, DC 37 revived its political clout as nearly 96 percent of its endorsed candidates won their bids to get on the November ballot in races for Congress and the State legislature.

Hevesi: unanimous endorsement
On Sept. 24, the DC 37 Delegates Council voted unanimously to endorse Mr. McCall for governor and Alan Hevesi for State Comptroller as well as 18 Congressional candidates, and a total of 91 State legislative members and candidates for the general election Nov. 5.

In the weeks leading up to the vote, DC 37's Political Action and Legislation Dept. sent thousands of pieces of mail to members. And volunteers, retirees and members staffed phone banks to get out the vote.

On Primary Day, the department organized field operations that put close to 600 DC 37 volunteers - including many Lifeguards from Locals 461 and 508 - into communities around the city from dawn to 9 p.m., when the polls closed.

Despite low voter turnout on the eve of the first anniversary of 9/11, DC 37's Green Machine of volunteers helped union-backed candidates win.

"I volunteer because I believe I can make a difference," said Local 1549 member Margaret Forbes. "If I can get my family and friends involved, then I can help elect politicians who will work for us."
Mr. McCall, who started as the underdog, enjoyed a "sweet victory" as his mounting labor, community and upstate support led opponent Andrew Cuomo to drop out of the race just one week before the primary.


H. Carl McCall, the Democratic candidate for governorof New York, greets DC 37 members at union headquarters. Mr. McCall's campaign is based on issues close to the hearts of working people: education, rebuilding the New York economy and job security.

McCall: Invest in education
"We are ready to get New York moving again," said Mr. McCall. "We want to make sure that hard-working families can reach their aspirations as we invest in education and help build a dynamic and growing economy.

"We want to make sure that every New Yorker has the tools and the opportunity to succeed."
Although DC 37 candidate Bill Mulrow lost the Comptroller nomination to Alan Hevesi, the primary unified the Democratic Party as it gears up for November.

An unanticipated upset may well have aided Mr. McCall. Rochester billionaire Thomas Golisano beat Gov. George E. Pataki by 496 votes to become the Independent Party's gubernatorial candidate. If he splits the conservative vote in November, experts say a close three-way race could help put Mr. McCall - and his running mate Dennis Mehiel - in the governor's mansion.

"But we have to do our job of registering, volunteering and voting. Our members have the power to decide who New York's next governor will be," said Ms. Roberts.