Manhattan Borough President and Democratic Nominee for Comptroller backs Kallos for the Fifth Council District
(New York, N.Y) Manhattan Borough President and Democratic Nominee for Comptroller Scott Stringer threw his support behind Ben Kallos, Democratic nominee for City Council in the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island today, citing his dedication to equal rights and reform. Stringer joins elected officials such as Representative Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger and Councilmember Jessica Lappin in backing Kallos, who will run in the general election on November 5.
Stringer decisively won the Democratic nomination for Comptroller in the September 10 primary election.
“Ben Kallos has demonstrated that he has the courage to advance a reform agenda and takes a thoughtful, serious approach to improving quality of life of all New Yorkers,” said Stringer. “We share a strong commitment to gender equality, including income parity and equal access to healthcare services. I am endorsing his candidacy because I know Ben Kallos will represent the interests of the people of the fifth Council district and uphold their values in the City Council.”
As Borough President, Stringer made sweeping reforms to Manhattan’s Community Boards by reforming the appointment process. He also created initiatives to promote greater transparency and accountability in the City budget process and to give New Yorkers a stronger voice in how government spends tax dollars.
“It is an honor to receive the endorsement of Scott Stringer, who has been a tireless and systematic advocate for issues of profound importance to New Yorkers. He is already a national leader in transparency and sustainability, and I believe he will do amazing work in the Comptroller’s office as he did in the Borough President’s office. He will do an excellent job managing the finances of this City, and I am excited to work with him to ensure the financial health of our neighborhoods,” said Kallos.
Stringer was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992, representing Manhattan’s Upper West Side for 13 years and has served as Manhattan Borough President since 2006. Stringer transformed the Borough President’s office into a watchdog of government waste and mismanagement, tackling issues from the City’s runaway outside consultant spending at the Department of Education and deficient funding for the MTA to the need for fundamental reform of the New York City Housing Authority.
Kallos worked on the 2005 Manhattan Borough President’s race, one of his formative experiences in politics. He was later appointed to Community Board 8 through the Borough President’s reformed, open process. On the Community Board, Kallos advocated for the creation of the Youth and Education Committee to address the needs of underserved children, including identifying a free yellow bus program.
He has legislative and policy experience as Chief of Staff to Assembly member Jonathan Bing, head of good government reform group New Roosevelt and Policy Director for former Public Advocate Mark Green. Learn more about his run for City Council District 5 at http://KallosForCouncil.com
