Release: Justin Wagner Nabs Major Statewide Endorsement

Peekskill, NY:  New York State Senate candidate Justin Wagner, a Democrat from the Town of Cortlandt who is running to unseat incumbent Senator Greg Ball, received the endorsement of Senator Liz Kreuger’s “No Bad Apples” PAC, a political action committee formed in 2011 to elect good-government Democrats to the New York State Senate.  Wagner was the first candidate endorsed statewide.  This early endorsement is indicative that the influential Krueger, a veteran Democratic Senator whom has long championed government reform issues, recognizes Justin Wagner as a top priority for the 2012 election season; and that the Hudson Valley is likely to host one of the pivotal State Senate races in 2012.

In a joint appearance on the statewide television show “Capital Tonight” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.capitaltonight.com/2012/06/sen-krueger-and-justin-wagner-discuss-no-bad-apples/"http://www.capitaltonight.com/2012/06/sen-krueger-and-justin-wagner-discuss-no-bad-apples/) moderator Liz Benjamin, Justin Wagner and Senator Liz Kreuger discussed Wagner’s campaign to restore integrity to Albany and rebuild New York’s middle class.  Senator Liz Krueger had previously been active in the 2010 Primary campaign of Senator Gustavo Rivera, successfully working together to remove corrupt Democrat Pedro Espada from office.  In 2012, Krueger has pledged to lend her expertise and financial support to Wagner in his attempt to win the Hudson Valley State Senate seat currently held by first-term Republican Greg Ball.

In accepting the endorsement, Wagner said: “I got into this campaign with the mission of restoring integrity to Albany, so it is with great pride that I accept this endorsement as proof positive of my commitment to real reform in Albany - including campaign finance reform, ethics reform, redistricting reform, franked-mail reform and opening up the legislative process to greater levels of transparency.”

Senator Liz Kreuger said: “Justin Wagner is exactly the kind of candidate I set out to support when we started No Bad Apples. He is receiving our endorsement because he has what it takes to win in November, and he will work tirelessly to change Albany.”

Background: The email from Senator Kreuger to the No Bad Apples e-mail list announcing the endorsement:

Last summer, we set out with a mission: find reform-minded Democrats who should run for the state Senate. We’ve scoured the state looking for these men and women, and today we're beginning the next step in our mission: helping elect good-government Democrats this November.

And I’m proud to start by endorsing Justin Wagner.
Justin Wagner is exactly the kind of candidate I set out to support when we started No Bad Apples. He is receiving our endorsement because he has what it takes to win in November, and he will work tirelessly to change Albany.

Justin’s race may be the most exciting and competitive in New York. He’s running in the Hudson Valley’s 40th Senate district, which includes parts of northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. The incumbent Republican, Senator Greg Ball, barely won in 2010 despite that year’s Republican wave. And now he’s facing Justin – one of the smartest, hardest-working challengers out there.

Justin still knows that it’s going to be a tough race, with millions of dollars spent when it’s all said and done. That being said, after 10 years of fighting to elect Democrats in the state Senate, I haven’t seen many candidates as ready for that fight as Justin is. He knows how hard he needs to work – and we’re going to work just as hard to help him.

We will use the No Bad Apples PAC’s resources to provide outside support and technical assistance to Justin’s campaign. And right off the bat, Justin’s campaign will be receiving an initial investment of $5,000 to help expand their operations just in time for the June-July petitioning period, the traditional start of the campaign season.

We’re just getting started. Over the next few weeks, I will be introducing several more men and women from around the state who are ready to change Albany. 

With our help, they’re going to win.