DEMOCRATS COMING ON LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN TO JOIN PATAKI TEAM

Mayor of Lockport; Local Lewiston, Niagara Democrats, Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors Endorse Pataki; Board Train From Lockport to Albion to Brockport

Lockport - Coming on like a freight train, six western New York Democrats joined the growing list of Democrats for Pataki today by endorsing the Governor for reelection, citing his commitment to the people of Western New York

After the endorsement event in Lockport, hosted by Lockport Mayor, Thomas Sullivan, Governor Pataki and his supporters boarded a train bound for Brockport, destined to stop in Albion along the way.

Governor Pataki said, "It is a tremendous honor to have the support of these fine, hard-working men and women from Western New York. Working together - in Albany and right here in Lockport - we've made a difference. We've made sure our families are safe, provided thousands of New Yorkers with access to affordable, quality healthcare, and made the right decisions to grow our economy and create jobs. Working together, we will make New York even prouder, stronger and better than it is today. After all, whether we are Republicans, Democrats or Independents, we're all New Yorkers. And Americans. And that is what truly matters."

Lockport Mayor Thomas Sullivan said, "The City of Lockport wishes to thank Governor Pataki for being an integral part of the driving force that will bring about the revival of Main Street and the neighborhoods right here in the city. His enduring support and leadership of development of local levels is crucial for breathing new life into downtowns such as Lockport's."

Catherine Schwandt, president of the North Tonawanda Common Council said, "Governor Pataki has done a wonderful job for the City of North Tonawanda and, through his efforts, our community has become a better place to live. From the development of Gateway Park to the resurgence in our downtown area, Governor Pataki's successes are evident."

Town of Niagara Councilman Mike Ross said, "Governor Pataki has done an excellent job for our area, and I am proud of the progress the Town of Niagara has realized under his leadership."

Town of Niagara Councilman Wally Blake said, "I gladly endorse Governor Pataki for a third term in office. He leads a great team that has produced many positive results for our town and county."

Lewiston Town Councilman John Ceretto said, "It is my belief that support should be given not along political lines, but to the candidate who can do the best job of representing our community and that is why I support Governor George Pataki. I have seen the good things he has done for our area and I feel confident in supporting Governor Pataki for another term."

Lewiston Town Councilman Michael Johnson said, "Following a year of extraordinary events, Governor Pataki has continually shown outstanding leadership. I believe now is not the time to change the course. As an elected official and as a commercial real estate broker, I endorse the Governor along with my 2,500 fellow members of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors."

These endorsements build on the unprecedented breadth and depth of excitement that is following Governor Pataki everywhere he goes, from Binghamton to Buffalo to Brockport to Brooklyn.

Over the past few days, a plethora of New York daily papers have endorsed Governor George E. Pataki for re-election. The New York Times, Newsday, the Journal News, the Buffalo News, Kingston Daily Freeman, the Poughkeepsie Journal and the Middletown Times Herald-Record each endorsed Pataki for re-election in their Sunday editions. The Jewish Press, the New York Trend, and the Jewish Sentinel as well as a large Hispanic daily paper, Hoy, the Ogdensburg Journal and the Eagle Newspapers have also announced their support.

Last week, the Empire State Pride Agenda, Sila Calderon, the Democrat Governor of Puerto Rico, Vito Lopez and a host of Democrat Latinos from North Brooklyn and the NYC police and fire unions endorsed the Governor. And over the past few weeks, more than 170 Latino and Haitian-American preachers, as well as the more than 150,000-member United Federation of Teachers endorsed the Governor, bringing his union support to well past 1 million members, unprecedented for a statewide Republican candidate in New York State. He has been endorsed by the Albany Democratic Mayor and Comptroller of the County of Albany, the Democratic Mayors of Kingston and Buffalo, former Queens Borough President, Claire Shulman, the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, and entertainer LL Cool J. "Amigos de Pataki," the Governor's energetic and organized Latino supporters and "People for Pataki," the campaign's grassroots outreach headed by Emily Pataki, are growing with each day.


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