New York League of Conservation Voters
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206
For Immediate Release: October 25, 2019
Contact: Shachar Sharon
NYLCV Endorses Pro-Environment Candidates on Long Island
New York, N.Y. – The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make environmental sustainability a top political and policy priority in New York State, endorsed 33 pro-environment candidates running for county and municipal positions on Long Island.
The endorsements were made by the State Board on the recommendation of the Long Island Chapter using responses to the NYLCV questionnaire that highlights environmental issues. The questionnaire includes questions regarding climate change, public health, clean water, and the conservation of land. This year, the organization made commitments to become a certified Climate Smart Community a key factor in endorsement decisions for executive offices to ensure that municipalities are prepared to do their part to help the state achieve the ambitious climate and clean energy mandates set in the recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “As the White House continues to roll back environmental protections, local leadership is more important than ever. One of the most important ways that everyday New Yorkers can send a signal that they care about the environment is through their choice at the ballot box. Our endorsed candidates have been working to protect our natural resources, improve air quality, and make their communities more resilient. We urge voters to use our endorsement as a seal of approval for an outstanding environmental record and support them in their upcoming elections this fall.”
The full list of endorsed candidates can be found here.
Highlighted endorsed candidates include:
Steve Bellone for Suffolk County Executive
Water is the lifeblood of Suffolk County. County Executive Steve Bellone is spearheading the revitalization of the County’s waterways by working to replace failing septic systems and expanding the municipal sewer system. He also led the State by curbing the proliferation of litter caused by single-use bags – one of NYLCV’s top priorities. Moving forward, he will lead on climate change by seeking to attain certification for Suffolk County as a Climate Smart Community.
Laura Gillen for Hempstead Town Supervisor
As Hempstead Town Supervisor, Laura Gillen introduced the Town’s first-ever environmental committee. She worked to start a reef rehabilitation and oyster breeding initiative and created an electric vehicle car-sharing program. She also plans to continue this work by piloting a new scooter sharing program and making Hempstead a certified Climate Smart Community.
David Bligh for Suffolk County Legislature District 4
David Bligh would bring a fresh and highly informed environmental voice to the County Legislature. He has spent the last 15 years working as an environmental consultant ensuring compliance with environmental regulations on large development projects. As a legislator, Bligh plans to make preservation of Long Island’s aquifer a top priority, focusing on reducing nitrogen, PFAS, PFOA, and 1,4 Dioxane pollution in Suffolk.
The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fighting for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.
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