New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. endorsed his staffer, Lisa George, for the vacant 31st Assembly District seat in Tuesday’s primary elections.
“In these challenging times as we battle a pandemic and fight for social change, we need a leader who can rise to the occasion, and that leader is Lisa George,” Sanders (D – Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Edgemere, Bayswater, Arverne and Far Rockaway) said in a statement late last week.
George is Sen. Sanders’s office manager. She’s worked for him for seven years, the press release said.
“I am so proud to have the support of Senator Sanders,” George said. “He is a strong leader and he has not only been my employer, but my mentor for many years. I have learned a lot from him and I hope to bring that knowledge along with my own strong skill set to the people of the 31st Assembly District.”
The 31st Assembly District seat was left vacant when then Assemblymember now Civil Court Judge Michele Titus took a position on the civil court bench back in January. A special election for the office was originally scheduled for April but was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Candidates Richard David, Tavia Blakley, Shea Uzoigwe, Khaleel Anderson and Derrick DeFlorimonte are also on the primary ballot on Tuesday.
George’s association with the senator also got her the endorsement of UNITED HERE Local 100, a union which represents 18,000 workers in the restaurants, bars, arenas, cafeterias, airports, executive dining-rooms, exhibition halls and performing centers in New York City, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey.
They endorsed George because of the legislative experience she gained during her time with Sen. Sanders, the union said in a press release earlier this month.
“Lisa George will be a champion in Albany for the working people and union members,” said Sussie Lozada, the political director of the union in a press release.
George is involved with the district beyond her work in Sen. Sanders’s office. When the Board of Education put her 17-year old son’s school, the Peninsular Preparatory Academy in Far Rockaway, on the list of poor performing schools and marked it for closure, she became PTA president and organized alongside other parents to fight the closure. Now, the school is one of the best Public Charter Schools in New York City, the press release from Sen. Sanders’ office said.
“Lisa has already proven that she can unite the community,” Sen. Sanders said.
