Political action is much more than meeting with state lawmakers to press the union’s budgetary and legislative priorities. It also involves evaluating the candidates running for election to see where they stand on issues that concern UUP and SUNY. That prompted UUP’s Upstate Medical University (UMU) Chapter to co-sponsor an open forum with candidates in the race for the 119th Assembly District seat.

“The nearly 2,600 Upstate Medical University employees we represent wanted to know which candidates would best represent them and the interests of Upstate, the largest employer in Central New York,” UUP President Phil Smith said. “We needed to hear which candidates are sensitive to the needs of the State University of New York, which has been stung by $585 million in budget cuts over the past two years.”

FOCUS ED FORUM

The forum, organized by UUP and UMU, took place on the UMU campus less than a week before Election Day. It focused on issues germane to the union and Upstate: higher education and health care.

“The goal is to increase public awareness of these issues, since they impact all of us,” UMU Chapter President Carol Braund said as she opened the forum.

Three of the four Assembly candidates participated. UMU Chapter members and community residents used the forum to ask questions, such as whether the hopefuls would vote for further state budget cuts to SUNY.

UUP’s statewide affiliate, NYSUT, had not endorsed a candidate for the Assembly seat, which was won by Democrat Sam Roberts.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN HONORED

Roberts has big shoes to fill. He takes over in January for retiring Assemblywoman Joan Christensen, to whom UUP and UMU paid tribute during a ceremony preceding the candidates forum.

Smith presented Christensen with a certificate of appreciation for her 20 years of public service.

“For the UUP members who work at Upstate Medical and the faculty we represent at SUNY, we cannot thank you enough for the work you have done on behalf of our members, students and the state as a whole,” Smith said.

Christensen graciously accepted the honor, praising UMU and the role it plays in the lives of the citizens of Central New York.

“Thank you for all that you do,” she said. “We depend more on you than you depend on us.”

— Donald Feldstein