State Senator Toby Stavisky Endorses Sandra Ung for City Council, Citing Experience

State Senator Toby Stavisky, who represents the 16th Senate District and serves as the Chair of Committee on Higher Education, today endorsed Sandra Ung for City Council in the race for District 20. Senator Stavisky has represented the district since 1999; her endorsement of Sandra Ung follows other endorsements by Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, as well as endorsements by most of the major labor unions in New York City. 

The two announced the endorsement on the steps of P.S. 242 Leonard P Stavisky Early Childhood School, named after Toby Stavisky’s late husband and former State Senator Leonard Stavisky. Senator Stavisky cited Sandra’s experience and dedication to improving our schools as reasons for the endorsement. Before serving as the Chair of the influence Committee on Higher Education in the State Senate, Senator Stavisky taught Social Studies at Flushing High School and Stuyvesant high school. Alongside the endorsement by the United Federation of Teachers, Senator Stavisky’s support for Sandra shows that Sandra is the clear leader on education policy in the race to replace term-limited Councilmember Koo.

“In these unprecedented times, the City Council will need experienced leaders who don’t need on the job training, who know what to do. I have worked with Sandra Ung as she purchased meals and PPE and delivered it to families,” said State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. "As a new administration comes into City Hall, Sandra is someone we can trust to fight for our children. Sandra attended public schools in Flushing, went on to graduate from Hunter College and Columbia Law School. We worked together on the Flushing rally to preserve both the SHSAT and the specialized high schools. Sandra is uniquely qualified to represent us because she understands our community and has worked to make it a better place. I am proud to support Sandra Ung for the City Council. She represents a new generation of leaders who understands the past and will build a brighter future.”

Sandra Ung said, “I am incredibly honored to receive the endorsement of Senator Stavisky, who has been a leader in the fight for better schools across New York. Children are the future, and I am looking forward to working with the Senator to make sure that every student has the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”

As the first woman from Queens elected to the NYS Senate, Toby Stavisky has been a pioneer and role model for many women in public service. Among her many legislative accomplishments, she has passed important legislation to increase access to higher education in New York. 

Sandra Ung, who is the only candidate in the race to have been endorsed by legislators on the local, state and federal levels, is running to expand access to after school programs in New York and increase the number of classroom spaces in Flushing. A supporter of preserving the SHSAT, Sandra Ung has made expanding and improving 3K and Pre-K a centerpiece of her campaign. 

A product of New York City’s public schools herself, Sandra grew up attending P.S. 22, J.H.S. 189, Flushing High School, and Hunter College. She later earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School. Citing her commitment to public service and advocacy for the community, UFT, which represents 200,000 New York City public school teachers, endorsed her campaign last month.

Sandra has also been endorsed by the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, CWA District 1, 32BJ SEIU, NYSNA, HTC, District Council 37 and Local 831 IBT. Together, these unions represent well over half a million New Yorkers, showing that Sandra is the only candidate in District 20 capable of building a coalition of legislators and unions to put New York on the path towards a just recovery from the pandemic.