ELMHURST—Democratic candidate and City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who is battling it out in a tough race for the sixth Congressional district seat, picked up an endorsement Tuesday from EMTs, paramedics and fire inspectors.
“She was our first choice,” said Israel Miranda, the president of the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Inspectors, FDNY, during the announcement, near Elmhurst Hospital. “We hope she supports our mission to provide the best medical care,” said the union chief which has 3,300 elected members and handles 1.2 million 911 calls a year.
The nod in the race for outgoing Rep. Gary Ackerman's seat comes just weeks after Crowley picked up endorsements from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Association.
Crowley was caught on camera being coached by PBA head Pat Lynch about an answer to a question about the controversial stop-and-frisk policy.
On Tuesday, Crowley also got a nod from the Uniformed EMS Officers Union, which represents 500 of the FDNY's captains and lieutenants.
“As the chairperson of the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee [in the city council], she has worked hard to keep our firehouses open,“ said Lt. Vincent Variale, the president of the union, referring to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to shuttering 20 fire companies, including four in Queens, to help bridge the budget gaps.
"Every year, the Mayor wants to shut firehouses," said Lt. Vincent Variale. "Liz has been a leader in stopping that from happening."
The councilwoman is locked in a tight race with Queens Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and late entrant Robert Mittman in an effort to take over Representative Gary Ackerman’s seat after he retires.
Ackerman, a 15-term representative, recently threw his weight behind Meng, saying she represented his values.
The campaign is now headed towards the June 26 primary. The winner will face off with the Rep Daniel Halloran III in the final race.
