By DC 37 PEPtalk

With races on the line this year for New York City mayor, comptroller, public advocate, several City Council seats, and District Attorney in Manhattan and Brooklyn, DC 37’s 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees hold significant weight. An endorsement from District Council 37 is more than a stamp of approval — it’s a commitment of time, resources, and mutual support, which is why the union’s endorsement process ensures members’ issues and concerns are the focal point in decision making.

To be considered for a DC 37 endorsement, declared candidates must first express interest by contacting the union’s Political Action Department. Candidates then fill out a questionnaire sharing what they would like to accomplish as an elected official and where they stand on issues of importance to DC 37 members, such as housing affordability, health care, child care, and collective bargaining rights. The questionnaires are then reviewed by a screening committee, which consists of 15 local presidents and Political Action Committee Chair Donald Nesbit, who are appointed by DC 37 President Shaun D. Francois I.

“A union that represents such a diverse variety of job titles must have an endorsement process that is democratic,” Nesbit said. “Members who wish to see their concerns reflected should be in active conversation with their local president and their local’s elected delegates. Other ways to increase their political engagement in the union include reading Action Alerts from the Political Action Department and attending monthly PAC meetings.”

After screening interviews are completed, the Screening Committee votes on its final endorsement recommendations to DC 37’s Executive Board. The Executive Board reviews those recommendations and, once a consensus is reached, submits the slate to the union’s delegate body (elected representatives from each local) for a final vote.

Once a candidate is officially endorsed by DC 37, the “Green Machine” jumps into action and helps turn out the vote in that candidate’s district. The union’s ability to engage its membership in GOTV efforts and at the ballot box has been a critical element in local and state elections for decades.