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Bill Thompson Endorsed For New York City Mayor By United Federation Of Teachers

Bill Thompson Lands BIG Endorsement
Newsday
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson speaks at a rally outside Mayor Michael Bloomberg?s campaign headquarters October 20, 2009 in New York City. The rally protested Bloomberg?s AIDS policies ahead of the upcoming November election where Bloomberg is seeking an unprecedented third term in office. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The city teachers union on Wednesday endorsed mayoral candidate Bill Thompson, a Democrat and onetime president of the Board of Education, who came close to defeating Michael Bloomberg in the last race for mayor.

Thompson "will make a great mayor, but also a great partner" for teachers, schoolchildren and parents, said Michael Mulgrew, president of the 200,000-member United Federation of Teachers, as he announced the endorsement at the union's lower Manhattan headquarters.

"We need to make sure that this entire city school system is about helping teachers help children," said Mulgrew, whose union has fought bitterly with Bloomberg over education policy.

Thompson, also a former city comptroller, said, "As mayor, I'm not going to demonize teachers. We've had enough of that."

The union's decision followed a period of aggressive courtship by most of the other Democratic candidates.

The last time the union successfully endorsed a winner for mayor was 1989, when it gave its nod to David Dinkins. It sat out every election since, except for 2001, when it endorsed losers in the primary, primary runoff and general election.

Thompson was the Democratic nominee in 2009. This time around, polls have him in fourth place, behind Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Rep. Anthony Weiner and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

With the UFT now in Thompson's corner, the union is expected to put its resources, including money, get-out-the-vote operations and support services such as polling, behind his candidacy.

The primary is Sept. 10. If no candidate garners at least 40 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face each other in a runoff.

Mulgrew told Newsday earlier this month that he doesn't plan to endorse any other candidates if the union's selection fails to win the primary this time.

Weiner, asked earlier Wednesday how much union endorsements such as the UFT's matter, invoked his own mother: "I've been endorsed by Frances Weiner, 31-year veteran and a member of the UFT. I think her vote is fairly firm." ___

(c)2013 Newsday

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Before You Go

2013 NYC Mayoral Candidates
Bill de Blasio (01 of12)
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Currently the city's Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio announced his bid for mayor in January 2013.He has supported the paid sick leave bill, banning horse-drawn carriages, and has been fiercely critical of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's homeless policies. (credit:Getty Images)
Anthony Weiner(02 of12)
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Former Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner finally announced his bid for mayor in May after months of intense speculation by the media and politicians alike. In 2011, an embarrassing sexting scandal forced Weiner to resign from Congress. The lewd photos, along with his denial and subsequent admission, kept him out of the political spotlight until this spring. (credit:AP)
John Liu(03 of12)
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As the city's current comptroller, John Liu oversees New York City's finances. Despite a federal investigation accusing two former aides to Liu of breaking campaign finance laws, Liu announced his candidacy for mayor in March.In a recent interview, Liu said, "We are all liberal Democrats" and suggested Democratic mayoral hopefuls were all the same, differing on only a few issues such as stop and frisk. If elected, Liu would become the city's first Asian-American mayor. (credit:Getty Images)
Christine Quinn(04 of12)
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Christine Quinn is the current City Council Speaker of New York City. She is said to be Mayor Michael Bloomberg's favorite candidate. (credit:Getty Images)
Bill Thompson(05 of12)
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From 2002-2009, Bill Thompson served as New York City's Comptroller. Thompson, a Democrat, ran for mayor in 2009 against Bloomberg. He was outspent 14 to 1 by Bloomberg, and still only lost by a few percentage points. (credit:Getty Images)
Adolfo Carrion Jr. (06 of12)
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Adolfo Carrion, Jr. was the Bronx Borough President from 2002 to 2009 and was appointed by the Obama administration as the Regional Director for HUD's New York office. He is running for mayor as an independent. (credit:Getty Images)
Erick Salgado(07 of12)
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Staten Island's Rev. Erick Salgado announced his Democratic candidacy for mayor, despite a socially conservative agenda which includes anti-gay marriage, pro-life policies. (credit:Facebook)
Sal Albanese(08 of12)
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Sal Albanese is a former city council member also hoping to win the Democratic primary. He also worked as a New York City public school teacher. This will be his third bid for mayor of New York City. (credit:Facebook/© Callie Lipkin)
Joseph Lhota(09 of12)
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Before launching his GOP candidacy for mayor, Joseph Lhota served as MTA chairman and served as the City’s Budget Director in Mayor Giuliani’s first term, and Deputy Mayor for Operations during the second.In 1999, he fought a public battle against the Brooklyn Museum to remove a portrait of the Virgin Mary containing elephant dung. He lost. (credit:Getty Images)
John Catsimatidis (10 of12)
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John Catsimatidis . a Republican candidate for mayor, is a billionaire supermarket mogul. He is known for his pro-NYPD policies and supports the continuation of the department's controversial stop-and-frisk program. (credit:Getty Images)
George McDonald(11 of12)
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George McDonald is the founder and president of The Doe Fund, a non-profit that seeks to help homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals find work. He has never held public office.He initially identified himself as a Democrat but has since switched to the Republican party. McDonald has received criticism for trying to challenge campaign contribution limits. (credit:Facebook)
Anthony Weiner(12 of12)
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Former Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner finally announced his bid for mayor in May after months of intense speculation by the media and politicians alike. In 2011, an embarrassing sexting scandal forced Weiner to resign from Congress. The lewd photos, along with his denial and subsequent admission, have since dogged his political career, but a recent poll revealed many New Yorkers were willing to forgive and forget, with voters putting him at second only behind frontrunner Christine Quinn. (credit:AP)
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