CWA 1180 - Political Action

Vote “No” on the elimination of party primaries, Tuesday, Nov. 4
October 2003

Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Charter Revision Commission would like to eliminate party affiliations in city elections, thus ending party primaries for the municipal offices of Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate and City Council, and robbing voters of one of the most precise measures of a candidate’s ideology-their party. CWA Local 1180, the New York City Central Labor Council and other city unions are working in a coalition to defeat Bloomberg’s proposal to create “nonpartisan elections.”

Eliminating party primaries would swing elections further in favor of wealthy candidates and weaken the chances of minorities in city elections because many minority groups depend on party backing and primaries to secure a place in the race.

The proposed election reform would allow multiple candidates from all parties to run together with an optional listing of party affiliation. Those that choose to use a party affiliation may do so even without the nomination of their party.
Bloomberg testifies that such a reform would increase voter participation, but this controversial charter revision would undoubtedly dissuade an already disgruntled public from voting because candidates would have no support from the party and political organizations that the public trusts-they also would no longer be screened during primaries on issues important to the public.
Such a system would make it effortless for a wealthy candidate, like Bloomberg, to buy their way into an election without revealing where they stand on important issues, while grassroots, populist candidates will struggle without the crucial support of political organizations and parties that they’ve come to depend on.

“The bottom line,” says CWA 1180 2nd VP Bill Henning, “is that nonpartisan elections stifle democracy and depress voter turnout.” Vote against the elimination of party primaries and protect a more democratic electoral process by voting “No” on nonpartisan elections on November 4, 2003.

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