3 Staten Islanders vying to be delegates for presidential hopeful
Originally published in the Staten Island Advance
3 Islanders vying to be delegates for presidential hopeful
December 02, 2003
By TOM WROBLESKI
Three Staten Islanders are among those running to be delegates for Rep. Dennis Kucinich at next year's Democratic National Convention, the presidential candidate's local organizers announced.
A total of five people from the 13th Congressional District hoping to represent Kucinich will appear on the ballot for the New York state presidential primary on March 2.
District coordinator Edward Wlody said the campaign drew from members of the labor, peace and progressive movements in choosing delegates.
"It's a good cross-representation of what Dennis is all about," said the St. George resident.
The liberal Kucinich, an Ohio congressman and former Cleveland mayor, usually ranks near the bottom of the polls among the nine Democratic presidential contenders.
The campaign had already announced that Livingston labor leader George McAnanama and former Brooklyn state Supreme Court justice and Assemblyman Frank Barbaro would run as Kucinich delegates.
Rounding out the slate are: Dorothy Mannino, a West Brighton resident who is on leave from her teaching job while raising her child; Ruth Benson of Castleton Corners, a psychotherapist and member of Staten Island Peace Action, and Brooklyn resident Margaret Hughes, a certified social worker and executive director of Good Old Lower East Side Inc., an organization dedicated to tenant organizing and housing issues.
"These are people who have a basic feel of what suffering is," said Wlody. "It's an issue you don't see in the newspapers, or even in the other campaigns."
Ms. Mannino joined the delegate slate after hearing a presentation from the Kucinich campaign in Stapleton last month.
Kucinich's opposition to the war in Iraq, coupled with his focus on labor issues, such as increasing the minimum wage and outlawing NAFTA and the World Trade Organization, drew her to the campaign, she said.
"This is our opportunity to vote for someone who is really different from any of the other candidates," she said.
Nominating petitions began circulating last week. Kucinich needs 5,000 signatures to get on the statewide primary ballot. Delegates need less than 800 from within the district, according to Wlody.
Kucinich will discuss the campaign with labor leaders and other supporters today in Midtown Manhattan.
The Democratic convention will be held in Boston beginning July 26.
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We need signatures now, please spread this email contact Ed immediately on Staten Island. Today and tomorrow December 29 and 30th. It is urgetnt.
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Posted by: Ed Wlody | December 29, 2003 10:54 AM