The more than 200,000-member United Federation of Teachers (UFT) this month joined the growing number of public officials and many of New York City’s most powerful labor organizations in supporting front-runner Judge Dweynie Esther Paul for Kings County Surrogate Court in the June 22 Democratic primary election.
“Judge Paul has both the judicial and real-world experience that our Brooklyn teachers need in a Surrogate’s Court Judge,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “She will fight for working families across Brooklyn.”
Paul, a product of the New York City public schools, previously served in Family Court, where she presided over guardianship cases involving children, demonstrating authentic interest in fostering the stability of intergenerational wealth within our communities.
“I could not be prouder to have the support of our courageous, innovative and dedicated New York City Teachers,” said Judge Paul. “Their commitment to our children’s minds during the pandemic has highlighted their heroism. I will work every day to ensure that Teachers and the families they serve to find economic justice through transfer of intergenerational wealth.”
The UFT’s endorsement comes on the heels of those of many other labor organizations, including the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU)–UFCW, Teamsters Local 237, Transport Workers Union Local 100, Amalgamated Transit Union, District Council 37, Local 371 Social Service Employees Union (SEIU), Hotel Trade Council, Local 1407, Alliance of South Asian Labor (ASAAL) and Local 372 Board of Education employees.
Judge Paul’s Surrogate Court bid is also supported by a diverse group of leaders throughout Brooklyn, including Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke; City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo; State Senators Kevin Parker and Roxanne J. Persaud; State Assembly Members Nick Perry, Latrice Walker, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Jaime Williams, Mathylde Frontus, and Stefani Zinerman; Council Members Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Farah N. Louis, Robert Cornegy, Mark Treyger, and Justin Brannan; and District Leaders Annette Robinson, Henry Butler, Josue Pierre, Shirley Patterson, Ari Kagan, Margarita Kagan, Dionne Brown-Jordan, Joseph Bova, Tori Kelly, Arelis Martinez, Erik Dilan, Arlene Alvarado-McCalla, Frank Seddio, Sue Anne Partnow, Nancy Tong and Christopher McCreight. Judge Paul is endorsed by the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
Paul, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, currently serves as a Civil Court judge and was previously an acting Supreme Court Justice serving in Family Court. She is a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook University and The George Washington University Law School and has been deemed qualified for the Surrogate’s Court by the Judicial Screening Panel, a committee of practicing attorneys from various bar associations across New York City.
