Albany, NY – Phil Steck announced today that he has been endorsed by 7 more local elected officials from Albany, Rensselaer and Montgomery Counties in his campaign to succeed Congressman Mike McNulty. Albany County Legislators William Clay (city of Albany), Norma Chapman (city of Albany) joined Rensselaer elected officials County Legislator Kevin Harrington (North Greenbush), Rensselaer Mayor Dan Dwyer, City Clerk Maureen Nardacci, City Councilman Dominick Tagliento, and former Amsterdam Mayor John Duchessi in officially endorsing Steck.
“I have the spent the past 20 years working to improve my community in Colonie and I believe that we need a Congressman with a community based focus in Washington,” said Steck. “The nearly 40 local officials who have endorsed me agree, and I am grateful to have their support this early in the campaign.”
In 1999, Steck was elected to the Albany County Legislature from a District that had never before elected a Democrat, and at the time he was the only Democrat elected from his town, Colonie, a town of over 80,000 people. In 2002, Steck became Democratic Chairman in Colonie and in 2007, he helped elect the first Democratic government in Colonie since the Town was founded in 112 years ago.
“Last year in Colonie we defeated one of the strongest, most well-funded, most entrenched Republican organizations in the State,” added Steck. “That was the spark that ignited my grassroots campaign for Congress this year.”
Steck had previously announced the endorsement of nearly 30 elected and party officials in Albany County, including New York State Assemblyman Bob Reilly, Bethlehem Supervisor Jack Cunningham, Watervliet Mayor Mike Manning, Colonie Supervisor Paul Mahan, Albany City Councilwoman Carolyn McLaughlin, and Albany County Legislators Wanda Willingham and Luci McKnight among others.
Steck said that he decided to run for Congress because he believes we need a real change of direction in Washington. That change can only occur if the people of the Capital Region have a leader who will listen to their concerns and work for their interests. Steck has spoken out for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, establishing a single-payer system of health care to assure the quality affordable health care Americans deserve, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and making college more affordable.
