NEW YORK—Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has been endorsed by three women’s groups in the race for New York City comptroller.
At a press conference at Union Square Monday, July 22, Stringer said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would also back him over the other democratic candidate, Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer resigned as governor of New York in 2008 amid a prostitution scandal.
Stringer said he was not worried that Spitzer appeared to be ahead by 9 percentage points in a recent Marist poll. (NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll)
“You have to fight for every office. I always anticipated that … I had never assumed we would get anything for free,” Stringer said.
Stringer served 13 years in the New York State Assembly and became Manhattan Borough President in 2006. Spitzer was a state attorney general who earned the nickname “Sheriff of Wall Street,” before he became governor in 2007.
New York City president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Sonia Ossorio, said her organization has worked with Stringer for many years, including working on reducing human trafficking through the John F. Kennedy airport in New York.
A member and former board member of NOW, K.C. Washington said she voted for Spitzer for governor in 2007. She said she felt deeply disappointed by his earlier misconduct.
“It was disrespectful to his family, as well as to his supporters, and women in general,” she said.
Andrea Miller, president of NARAL Pro Choice New York, said the next comptroller should share the values of the millions of New Yorkers that he or she will represent and fight for.
“Scott Stringer’s record, his sensibilities, and his values really demonstrate that he will really do all he can for the women and families in New York,” Miller said.
She said although other political figures tend to take the limelight, the office of the comptroller plays an important role in ensuring adopted policies are implemented effectively.
Stringer prides himself on being a leader on women’s issues. In 1994, while in the Assembly, he authored a bill, requiring police officers (rather than victims) to serve orders of protection for battered women, thus protecting women from potential repercussions.
He is also partnering with Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and the Mayor’s Office to establish the Manhattan Family Justice Center, which will offer legal and support services for victims of domestic violence.
The primaries in New York City will be held on September 10. Six candidates are running for comptroller: the two democrats, Stringer and Spitzer; Green Party candidate Julie Willebrand; and libertarians Hesham El Meligy and Kristin Davis.
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