Bay Ridge

Construction workers, business leaders endorse Donovan

April 21, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Republican Dan Donovan accepts the endorsement of Robert Engstrom (right), senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during a recent event at a Staten Island pharmacy. Photo courtesy Donovan campaign
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Republican Dan Donovan, the man seen by many political observers as the front-runner in the special election for the Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island congressional seat, has picked up two more endorsements to boost his campaign.

On Monday, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York threw its support behind Donovan, the Staten Island district attorney who is making his first run at congress.

“Dan Donovan has always been a friend to labor,” said Gary LaBarbera, president of the council. “We need representatives in Washington who will be a strong voice for New York’s hardworking families. Dan never forgot his roots growing up in a middle-class labor household and we know he will be continue to be a leader on these issues.”

Donovan said he was grateful for the endorsement and added that if he wins the special election on May 5, he will fight for funding for projects to repair the infrastructure of the congressional district.

“It’s truly an honor to have the backing of the Building Trades in my campaign,” Donovan said. “The majority of the men and women of this organization live in New York City and they deserve to have someone working to ensure they can afford to stay here. For too long, New York and the 11th congressional district, especially, has been shortchanged on infrastructure funding. I look forward to fighting for New York’s fair share that will create jobs and grow our economy.”

On April 16, the United States Chamber of Commerce announced their endorsement of Donovan. The announcement took place at St. George’s Pharmacy on Staten Island.

“Dan Donovan understands the challenges facing our businesses,” said Robert Engstrom, Senior vice president of political affairs and national political Director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “His plan to lower taxes, rein in excessive regulation and balance the federal budget will jumpstart the economy and help create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation and represents the interests of more than three million businesses.

“Our economy has been stuck in a rut due to a too-big, too-expensive, over-regulating federal government,” Donovan said when he accepted the endorsement. “We need to get government off the backs of our job creators to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit and foster innovation.”

Donovan, Democrat Vinnie Gentile and Green Party candidate James Lane are running in the special election to fill the vacant seat in the 11th Congressional District. The seat became vacant when Republican Michael Grimm resigned from congress after he pleaded guilty to a charge of tax fraud.

The district covers the entire borough of Staten Island and includes parts of Southwest Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend.

The district is dominated geographically by Staten Island, however, giving Donovan, a well known name in that borough, an edge over his two opponents who hail from Brooklyn, according to political observers.

 

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