Firefighters’ union endorses mainly Democrats

Move comes in wake of CSEA shunning party

KINGSTON, N.Y. » The union that represents city firefighters has endorsed primarily Democratic candidates running in the upcoming Common Council elections.

The endorsements by Kingston Professional Firefighters Association Local 461 are in sharp contrast to the Kingston unit of the Civil Service Employees Association shunning all Democratic council candidates in its endorsements earlier this month.

The firefighters’ union said on its Facebook page that it has endorsed Democrats Jeffrey Morell in Ward 1, Douglas Koop in Ward 2, Reynolds Scott-Childress in Ward 3, Bill Carey in Ward 5, Anthony Davis in Ward 6 and Steve Schabot in Ward 8. All but Morell are incumbents.

The union also endorsed Patrick O’Reilly, a nonenrolled voter who has both Democratic and Republican backing in his run for the open seat in Ward 7; and Republican incumbent Debbie Brown in Ward 9.

Brown is being challenged by Democrat Andrea Shaut. O’Reilly is running against Bryan “Drew” Andrews, who will be on the Working Families Party line on the ballot.

The firefighters’ union made no endorsement in Ward 4, where Democrat Rita Worthington is running unopposed for an open seat.

The Kingston unit of the CSEA, which represents about 150 city employees, took the unusual step in early October of endorsing only Republican- and Conservative-backed candidates for Common Council seats.

The Kingston CSEA typically has supported Democratic candidates in city races.

Troy Ashdown, a member of the CSEA committee that recommended the endorsements, said previously that the union shares some of the nationwide disillusionment with Democratic leadership.

Kingston has not had a Republican mayor or a Republican majority on the nine-member council for about the past 25 years. The council’s current makeup is eight Democrats and only one Republican.

Three of the five council candidates endorsed by the CSEA are not registered members of either of the Republican Party or Conservative Party. The two who are are Republican Michael Russell, who is vying for the open seat in Ward 1 against Morell; and Brown

in Ward 9. The other Republican/ Conservative-backed candidates endorsed by the CSEA are Teryl Mickens, a member of the Independence Party who is running against Carey in Ward 5; James Rodden, a registered Democrat who is running against Schabot in Ward 8; and O’Reilly in Ward 7.

The CSEA made no endorsements in Wards 2, 3, 4 and 6.

In Ward 3, Scott-Childress is being challenged by Ellen DiFalco, a registered Democrat who will be on the Republican line.

Koop and Davis, like Worthington, are running unopposed.