"Your endorsement is keeping me in place to make sure we do the right thing for the environment," says Albany County Legislator Lucille McKnight.In the 2007 elections, the New York League of Conservation Voters had an impressive record of success: 53 of our 60 endorsed candidates were voted into office.

But exactly how did the League's endorsement help put candidates over the top and what will they do to advance environmental issues henceforth? We put those questions to five of our winning candidates, and here's what they had to say.

"Your endorsement is keeping me in place to make sure we do the right thing for the environment," says Lucille McKnight, who was re-elected to represent the 2nd District in the Albany County Legislature. This veteran elected official looks forward to working to increase open space and creating more community gardens in her next term. And McKnight practices what she preaches: she is a member of her local community garden club and donated fresh produce from her garden for Thanksgiving meals.

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone said no group did more to support his candidacy than NYLCV.Jim Dougherty, the supervisor-elect of Shelter Island in Suffolk County, put his environmental bona fides at the center of his campaign. "Receiving the endorsement of a universally respected and independent environmental watchdog like the NYLCV permitted me to establish this credential in my advertising and promotion in a much briefer and more credible fashion, citing the League's endorsement, freeing me to devote more space to my other qualifications. It definitely helped in a very concrete way - a more favorable profile and more votes."

Norma Gonsalves, who was running for re-election to represent the Nassau County Legislature's 13th District, said NYLCV's endorsement reinforces her dedication and commitment to the pursuit of a clean and safe environment. "To be worthy of endorsement by the distinguished New York League of Conservation Voters fills me with great pride and appreciation. My success in promoting the betterment of our environment is rewarding in and of itself. To have received the endorsement of an organization so dedicated to the environment makes my efforts far more rewarding."

Phil Amicone, who was elected to a second term as mayor of Yonkers, noted that there were many groups and organizations that participated in his re-election campaign, but none of them did more to contribute to his election success than NYLCV. The centerpiece of his second-term environmental agenda is to revitalize the Hudson, Saw Mill and Bronx River waterfronts.

"Your endorsement has also motivated me to work harder than ever for important environmental causes during the next two years," says Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner.Amicone adds: "From the outset, NYLCV was tremendously supportive with issues development, financial assistance, voter outreach and even grassroots manpower. Our whole campaign team agrees that -- through a policy-focused process -- the NYLCV endorsement not only moved votes, but raised awareness about important environmental issues in the City of Yonkers and beyond. I'm proud and grateful that NYLCV endorsed my candidacy, and I look forward to working with them to accomplish our environmental goals and objectives in my second term."

Perhaps most importantly, NYLCV's endorsement encourages candidates to put the environment at the top of their agendas, according to Paul Feiner, who was re-elected as Greenburgh Town Supervisor in Westchester County. He described NYLCV's endorsement as "a stamp of approval from a well-respected environmental organization that is known to put issues and good government first -- ahead of partisan politics. Your endorsement has also motivated me to work harder than ever for important environmental causes during the next two years. Thanks so much."

Newsletter Issue

• Ecopolitics Monthly --- November 2007 --- Election Issue