The press releases are coming fast and furious.
Moments ago, the Kellner Committee announced more endorsements for Micah Kellner's run for the open State Assembly seat in the 65th Assembly District (Upper East Side, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island).
City Councilman Dan Garodnick, Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, and former candidate Barry Klein have all joined the ranks of Kellner supporters.
The release, in its entirety, follows:
MICAH KELLNER FOR STATE ASSEMBLY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
COUNCILMAN GARODNICK, ASSEMBLYMAN BING and BARRY KLEIN ENDORSE MICAH KELLNER FOR NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYCity Councilman Dan Garodnick, Assemblyman Jonathan Bing and former candidate Barry Klein today endorsed the campaign of Democrat Micah Kellner for the 65th Assembly District seat (Upper East Side, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island). In adding their support to the growing momentum of Kellner's candidacy, the three leading East Side Democrats gave another strong boost to the campaign of Kellner, the Democratic State Committeeman for the 65th A.D. since 2004 and a member of the State Committee's Reform Caucus. Kellner has been an aide to several elected officials serving Manhattan's East Side and was endorsed last week by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin , who, like Garodnick, represent all or part of the 65th A.D.
"Micah Kellner has earned my endorsement because he has committed to a number of specific Albany reforms. He has pledged to fight to give chairs and ranking members in the Assembly the power to select their own committee staff, to enact term limits on their leadership positions, and for non-partisan redistricting," said Councilman Garodnick, a strong voice for reform at City Hall. "He also has pledged to support legislation to end the backwards selection process to fill vacancies for the Assembly -- replacing it with an open, public primary election -- and to ensure that he is the very last candidate to be nominated by a County Committee."
"Micah Kellner is also the candidate with the most in-depth knowledge of East Side neighborhoods and our local quality of life concerns," said Councilman Garodnick. "Whether it's helping the MTA implement Bus Rapid Transit for M15 bus riders on First and Second Avenues, fighting to preserve and increase our affordable housing stock, working to provide more classroom seats in our schools, or striving to maintain open space and public access to the East River waterfront, Micah Kellner is the best choice for East Siders to provide responsive and energetic representation in the State Assembly." Garodnick has been praised by The New York Times for his "independent streak," and as a "champion of smarter redevelopment along the East River and a fighter for increased funding for the city's public school students", and is a champion for tenants throughout the East Side, including at the Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village housing complex, where he lives.
Assemblyman Jonathan Bing said, "Micah Kellner is the best Democrat to join me in partnership to provide effective representation for all the people of the Upper East Side in the Legislature. A hard-working, passionate grass-roots community activist and a tested public servant, Micah Kellner will best be able to hit the ground running in the Assembly and move both the Legislature and the East Side in a positive new direction.
"Micah Kellner will make a great ally in the Assembly in fighting for affordable housing on the East Side. Together we will fight for a renters' tax credit, stronger tenant protections, and to preserve the East Side's historic landmarks and neighborhoods. Micah Kellner will be a leader in the effort to provide critical support to the arts and our world-class educational and cultural institutions. I know he will provide the East Side the best possible representation in ensuring that the construction of the Second Avenue Subway results in minimal disruption to local residents and businesses. That's because Micah Kellner is the candidate in this race who knows our communities the best," said Assemblyman Bing. Bing succeeded in introducing and securing passage of measures to provide the first new State funding for arts and cultural organization in more than a decade and to authorize the equalization of State library funding, resulting in a $1.5 million boost in government support for libraries in New York City.
Barry Klein said, "I have worked as a colleague with Micah Kellner to deliver the best possible constituent service to the people of the East Side . He will make an outstanding addition to the talented ranks of the team of young elected officials who represent us in Albany and at City Hall." A former President of Manhattan Young Democrats, Klein ended his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 65th A.D. last week. He serves as the Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Bing.
The endorsements of Councilman Garodnick, Assemblyman Bing and Barry Klein add powerful momentum to the rapidly expanding list of leading local Democrats supporting Kellner's candidacy. A partial list of Kellner's endorsements includes:
- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney;
- Councilwoman Jessica Lappin;
- Frank Wilkinson, the senior Democratic District Leader in the 65th A.D.;
- Pauline Dana-Bashian, Democratic District Leader of the 65th A.D.;
- Betsy Feist, President, East Side Democratic Club;
- Jerome Tarnoff, Secretary, New York County Democratic Committee;
- Ronnie Terr, former Democratic District Leader, 65th A.D.;
- Ken Mills, 65th A.D. Democratic County Committee Member & former Democratic District Leader;
- Dirk McCall, former President, Stonewall Democratic Club;
- Alexander Wood, past 504 Democratic Club President & 2004 Democratic Nat'l. Convention Delegate;
- Margie Smith, Member, Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council*;
- Steve Marcus, former President and current Member, RIRA Common Council*;
- James Whalen, Executive Committee Member, Lenox Hill Democratic Club and Member, RIRA Common Council*;
- Roslyn Fernandez, 65th A.D. Democratic County Committee Member from Roosevelt Island;
- Brian Chenensky, Executive Committee Member, Lenox Hill Democratic Club; and
- Josephine Barnes, Executive Committee Member, Lenox Hill Democratic Club;
* Organizations listed for identification purposes only
Councilman Dan Garodnick was elected to represent New York City's 4th Councilmanic District, which includes part of the 65th Assembly District, in 2005. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Council's Land Use Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions and Concessions. Assemblyman Jonathan Bing was elected to represent the 73rd Assembly District, which borders the 65th A.D. on three sides, in November 2002. He serves as Chairman of the State Assembly's Mitchell-Lama Housing Subcommittee. Barry Klein is a former President of Manhattan Young Democrats and serves as the Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Bing.
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