Randi DiAntonio – PEF Vice President
Dear PEF Member:
Thank you for visiting the PEF Political Action page. This page is specifically designed with resources and information to help you navigate the complex world of legislation and politics in New York state.
Your PEF leadership team understands that the union’s involvement in the political and legislative action is absolutely critical to you and every PEF member. We need to be involved because our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. and in Albany enact laws and implement policies that impact the terms and conditions of your employment, as well as your health and retirement benefits.
We know that there are politicians who will use any excuse to cut your retirement benefits, increase your health care costs, eliminate your due process rights or privatize your job. Your union makes sure you are represented and heard by monitoring bill introductions, attending and testifying at public hearings, conducting bill analyses, drafting new bills, developing amendments to pending bills and developing talking points and memoranda in support or opposition to pending legislation.
PEF’s legislative team is responsible for representing the interests of PEF members on pending legislative and regulatory issues and with pursuing the union’s legislative and political agendas as established under PEF policy. These legislative and political agendas are authorized under the direction of the president and in cooperation with the Regional and Statewide Political Action Committees and the Executive Board or as outlined in the resolutions advanced by rank-and-file members and adopted by delegates at the union’s annual convention.
PEF’s success is contingent on the involvement and action of rank-and-file members like you. In furtherance of this work, PEF staff develop legislative advocacy programs to engage our members in the legislative process utilizing activities like meeting with legislators, letter writing campaigns, writing op eds and letters to the editor and gathering member petitions. We also engage members in political campaigns to support “union-friendly” candidates for federal, state and local office. In support of our endorsed candidates, members engage in a wide array of activities like gathering party petitions, making phone calls, distributing literature and educating other PEF members about the issues.
I encourage you to read through the materials on this site, to talk to other PEF members and leaders and to join us in lobbying on legislation and supporting candidates for office. Only by working together can we hope to protect what we have earned, get what we need to do our jobs effectively and expand the benefits and protections provided to PEF members.
As always, your union stands ready to help as needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
In solidarity,
Randi DiAntonio
PEF Vice President, SWPAC Chair
Legislative Office
Role of the Legislative Office:
Identify legislation/budget initiatives that will advance or endanger PEF members’ working conditions and other interests and working to stop or get approval of such legislation/budget initiatives.
Work with legislative leaders, legislators and their staffs to introduce and advance legislation identified as a priority in PEF’s State & Federal legislative agendas.
Coordinate PEF’s lobbying efforts at the federal, state, and local levels.
PEF Endorsement Process
Regional PACs interview and endorse candidates. Slates sent to SWPAC. Once approved, slate submitted to Executive Board, which includes PEF leadership, for review and final approval. PEF-endorsed candidates had a proven record of supporting PEF’s legislative and budget priorities.
Campaign Contributions – State and Federal
PEF’s contributions to state and local candidates come from members’ dues. These funds are held in its political action fund. New York State (NYS) Election Law sets the parameters for these contributions. Additionally, PEF has developed statewide PAC guidelines for the use of these monies.
PEF’s federal campaign funds come from voluntary member contributions to its Committee on Political Education (COPE) Fund. PEF works in concert with its two international unions – American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union – on federal elections and campaign funding and activities.
Legislative Staff:
Patrick Lyons – Legislative Director
Leah Gonzalez – Political Director
Scott Lorey – Political Organizer/Lobbyist-State
Danielle Little-Thomson – Legislative Assistant
Legislative Priorities
Working closely with the PEF Legislative Department, the Statewide PAC organizes and coordinates political activity on a statewide basis. Each Regional PAC Chair coordinates political activities and programs between the Statewide PAC and the Regional PAC.
Each year, the SWPAC receives membership input for our Legislative Agenda. With technical assistance from our Legislative staff, the SWPAC puts together a draft of our legislative priorities which is reviewed and approved by our Executive Board and then voted on by the 1,000 convention delegates. Our agenda is then communicated to all state legislators and promoted throughout the legislative session.
Legislative Analysis
Letters to Legislators
April 14, 2021: Letter to NY Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins pushing for continued action on PEF budget priorities
April 14, 2021: Letter to NY Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Legislative Budget Testimony - 2021
PEF weighs in on transportation budget | Read full written testimony
PEF spotlights concerns at Workforce hearing | Read full written testimony
PEF opposes Mental Health closures, consolidations | Read full written testimony
PEF objects to closures, consolidations at OCFS | Read full written testimony
PEF to legislators: Invest in your workforce, not in contractors | Read full written testimony
PEF urges lawmakers to fund SUNY hospitals, retain and reward nurses | Read full written testimony
Political Action Committee
NYS-PEF
1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Road
Albany NY 12212-2414
W: 800-342-4306 / Fax: 518-783-1117 | gro.f1618959148ep@oi1618959148notnA1618959148iDR1618959148
Region 1 Chairs – (Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Niagara, Wyoming)
Michele Silsby
800-462-1462 | gro.f1618959148ep@yb1618959148sliSM1618959148
Joe McCann – PAC Co-Chair
800-462-1462 | gro.f1618959148ep@nn1618959148aCcMJ1618959148
Region 2 Chairs – (Alleghany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates)
Andrew Puleo
800-724-5001 | gro.f1618959148ep@oe1618959148luPA1618959148
Region 3 Chairs – (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne)
Leisa Abraham – PAC Co-Chair
800-724-5003 | gro.f1618959148ep@ma1618959148harbA1618959148L1618959148
Region 4 Chairs – (Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca)
Roberta Stafford
800-724-5004 | gro.f1618959148ep@dr1618959148offat1618959148SR1618959148
Gina Corona – PAC Co-Chair
315-243-6399 | gro.f1618959148ep@an1618959148orocg1618959148
Angela Murray – PAC Co-Chair
Region 5 Chairs – (Broome, Chenango, Delaware Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins)
David Dubofsky
800-724-4998 | gro.f1618959148ep@yk1618959148sfobu1618959148DD1618959148
Scott Staub – PAC Co-Chair
800-724-4998 | gro.f1618959148ep@bu1618959148atSS1618959148
Region 6 Chairs – (Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton, Madison, Montgomery, Lewis, Oneida)
Daniel Joaquin – PAC Co-Chair
800-724-5005 | moc.o1618959148ohay@1618959148ss13a1618959148es1618959148
Region 7 Chair – (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence)
Virginia Davey
888-498-8532 | gro.f1618959148ep@ye1618959148vaDV1618959148
Vernon (Sam) Burns – PAC Co-Chair
Region 8 Chairs – (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington)
Mike Blue
800-342-4306 | gro.f1618959148ep@eu1618959148lBM1618959148
Tom Comanzo – PAC Co-Chair
800-342-4306 | moc.l1618959148iamg@1618959148oznam1618959148oCT1618959148
Region 9 Chairs – (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester)
Diane Jaulus
800-548-4870 | gro.f1618959148ep@su1618959148luaJD1618959148
Daniel McCormack – PAC Co-Chair
800-548-4870 | moc.o1618959148ohay@1618959148022ro1618959148tagit1618959148sevnI1618959148rS1618959148
Region 10 Chairs – (Manhattan, Bronx)
Darlene Williams
800-522-8700 | gro.f1618959148ep@sm1618959148ailli1618959148WD1618959148
Tamara Martin – PAC Co-Chair
800-522-8700 | gro.f1618959148ep@ni1618959148traMT1618959148
Radhakrishna Mohan – PAC Co-Chair
800-522-8700 | gro.f1618959148ep@na1618959148hoMR1618959148
Region 11 Chairs – (Kings, Queens, Richmond)
Bernadette O’Conner
866-897-9775 | gro.f1618959148ep@re1618959148nnoCO1618959148B1618959148
Charles Roland – PAC Co-Chair
866-897-9775 | gro.f1618959148ep@dn1618959148aloRC1618959148
Region 12 Chairs – (Nassau, Suffolk)
Nora Higgins
800-832-5284 | gro.f1618959148ep@sn1618959148iggiH1618959148N1618959148
Kevin Wilson – PAC Co-Chair
Trustee
Christopher Buman
716-759-4932 | gro.f1618959148ep@na1618959148mubc1618959148
Retiree Representative
Bob Reynolds
moc.e1618959148vil@n1618959148erakn1618959148bob1618959148
Jim Carr
800-342-4306 x501 | moc.l1618959148iamg@1618959148dnalt1618959148roc.r1618959148racj1618959148
Videos - Why Politics Matter: The Union as a Force for Change
2020 PEF Convention: PAC Roundtable – Leah Gonzalez
https://vimeo.com/468721259
2020 PEF Convention: PAC Roundtable – Randi DiAntonio
https://vimeo.com/468716515
2020 PEF Convention: PAC Roundtable – Patrick Lyons
https://vimeo.com/468705635
2020 PEF Convention: Race Roundtable
https://vimeo.com/468695498
2020 PEF Convention: Labor Management Roundtable
https://vimeo.com/468687767
Political Action Volunteer Form
One way PEF can enhance its political power is by organizing members to volunteer for union endorsed candidates. A strong volunteer base is an essential component of any successful campaign. That is why PEF is currently recruiting politically active members who would like to volunteer their time to work on campaigns for local, state, and congressional campaigns as well as the upcoming Presidential election. Volunteers will be involved with phone banking, literature drops, and rallies. If you are interesting in volunteering, please complete the below form:
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