New York Times Endorses McMahon

via McMahon press release;

NYT Cites McMahon’s Exemplary Council Record in Today’s Endorsement for the 13th Congressional District
October 25, 2008 – Michael McMahon's congressional campaign today won the endorsement of the New York Times in the race for the 13th Congressional District seat covering all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. The Times highlighted McMahon’s “excellent” tenure as a Council Member, fighting “hard for environmental and transportation improvements that are badly needed in his district”.

Read the full endorsement below:

“13th District: If there were a prize for the most bizarre federal race this year, it would go to the campaign in Staten Island to replace Representative Vito Fossella, a Republican who decided not to run again after he was arrested for drunken driving and confessed to having a second family. One favored replacement died, and former Assemblyman Bob Straniere became the Republican choice by default.

Fortunately, Michael McMahon, a member of City Council, is the Democratic candidate. Mr. McMahon has been an excellent councilman who has fought hard for environmental and transportation improvements that are badly needed in his district. We endorse his bid to expand on that work in Congress.”

Today’s endorsement is the latest in a series of positive developments for McMahon, including endorsements from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, and backing from the city’s law enforcement unions the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Detectives Endowment Association, Captains Endowment Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, and the New York State Court Officers Association and New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, as well as the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association Local 831, and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726.

McMahon also received key support in the primary and going into the general, including primary endorsements from the Staten Island Advance, New York Times, Brooklyn Paper and Courier Life, endorsements from elected leaders including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Charles Schumer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former Mayor Ed Koch, and members of the New York City Congressional Delegation, and critical labor support from the New York State AFL–CIO, the United Federation of Teachers, 1199 SEIU Healthcare East, UFCW, UFA, UFOA and RWDSU.

Upon entering the race, McMahon also earned a spot on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's vaunted “Red to Blue” program, promising financial, communications and strategic support from the national party.

The General Election will be held on November 4th.