ENDORSEMENTS: NYSUT, State Assembly members, past and present

Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate for the 23rd Congressional District, was endorsed Tuesday by the New York State United Teachers, which has more than 33,000 members districtwide.

NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said in a statement that Ms. Scozzafava earned NYSUT's support for her advocacy on behalf of public education and the rights of workers.

"She is a moderate who has demonstrated, time and again, she understands the issues and is willing to take tough stands on behalf of working America," Mr. Iannuzzi said. "We are confident she will continue to advocate in Congress for education, health care and issues important to working women and men."

Alan B. Lubin, NYSUT executive vice president, said in a statement that Ms. Scozzafava has an "excellent track record on issues important to NYSUT members, including supporting additional funding for public schools, community colleges and the State University of New York."

NYSUT will back their candidate financially, but Mr. Lubin said this is endorsement is more about "feet on the street."

"It also translates into support from the largest union phone-bank operation in the state," he said. "Our members work for — and vote for — candidates like Dede Scozzafava who support the issues they care about: quality public schools, colleges and hospitals and access to affordable health care for all New Yorkers."

Ms. Scozzafava was endorsed Monday by former Assemblywoman Frances T. Sullivan.

Ms. Sullivan represented the 117th Assembly District, which spanned Oswego County, from 1991 to 2003. She was later appointed as state Commission of Correction commissioner.

"I truly believe that we need to elect Dede Scozzafava to continue the outstanding Republican representation we have relied upon for the past 18 years from John McHugh," she said in a statement. "Dede is principled, down-to-earth, intelligent, intellectually honest, unwaveringly loyal and absolutely committed to serving the best interests of the residents of the 23rd Congressional District."

Ms. Scozzafava was also endorsed Monday by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb, R-Canandaigua.

"Dede is a principled public servant of the highest integrity, a recognized leader in our conference who has worked hard and earned the respect of her colleagues, exemplified by her being the first woman to serve as our Minority Leader Pro Tempore," he said. "Standing up for, and listening to, north country families have been hallmarks of Dede Scozzafava's proven record of public service. Dede is a fiscal conservative who stood against tax-and-spend Democrats in Albany and she will do the same in Washington. She voted ‘no' on a reckless state budget that contained $8.5 billion in taxes and fees, hiked government spending nearly three times the rate of inflation and failed to contain real property tax relief. All across New York and throughout our nation, voters are hungry for new ideas and greater accountability from their elected officials. Dede will bring these qualities to our nation's capitol, where she will be an independent voice, not a rubber stamp, to ensure the voices of taxpayers across the 23rd District are well-represented in Congress.”