Category: News & Events

The Women’s Equality Party (WEP) has endorsed Tracy Mitrano for Congress in New York’s 23rd District.

In a statement, WEP Chairwoman Susan Zimet thanked all of the candidates who sought the party’s endorsement and said the party had completed a thorough review of each candidate. Zimet said, “The Women’s Equality Party is proud to endorse Tracy Mitrano for Congress. Women in this country still face significant discrimination, particularly in the workplace. Mitrano’s track record of community service and advocacy for marginalized communities throughout her personal and professional life, proves she is the person we need in Congress to fight for gender equality.”

WEP Regional Leader Debra Puckhaber also praised Mitrano’s ongoing work to advance the rights of women. “Tracy Mitrano is a champion and fierce advocate of Women’s Equality Party tenets, such as defending access to affordable healthcare, to protecting women’s rights in the workplace. We are confident she will bring that same spirit to Congress. She has a clear message which resonates across New York’s 23rd District, and a creative vision for our area that will translate into sustainable, concrete results.”

Watkins Glen Mayor Sam Schimizzi has endorsed Democrat Tracy Mitrano for Congress in NY-23.

In his statement, Schimizzi said, “I am pleased to announce that I have endorsed Tracy Mitrano for Congress. With compassion and a bias for action to meet the challenges we are facing, Tracy is absolutely the leader we need representing New York’s 23rd District in Washington. Her comprehensive economic development plan focuses on the real needs of constituents in places like Watkins Glen-defending access to affordable health care, helping small businesses, building vital infrastructure, addressing transportation challenges, providing our children with quality education and training, and keeping our environment safe and clean. We need Tracy in Congress because she will work tirelessly to help our communities thrive.”

Tonight, Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick endorsed Democratic Congressional candidate Tracy Mitrano running in New York’s 23rd District.

Mayor Myrick said in a statement, “I am so pleased to endorse Tracy Mitrano for Congress. The upcoming election in November is a chance to unite around a candidate who has the integrity, leadership, experience, and vision to truly represent the 23rd in Congress. Tracy’s focus on issues such as creating jobs, defending access to affordable health care, developing infrastructure, and protecting the environment are all issues that are important to constituents from Ithaca to Hornell to Wellsville and Jamestown, regardless of their political affiliation. Having spent her entire live in Western and Southern Tier New York, she has a genuine love for this area that will make her an excellent steward of this District. We must unite around these common values to elect someone who truly has the best interest of our beautiful District at heart, and that’s Tracy Mitrano.”

In response, Tracy Mitrano said the following, “I would like to thank Mayor Myrick for his endorsement. Ithaca has a special place in my heart. It took this Rochester native in and gave me a good place to work and to raise my two wonderful sons. I look forward to working with Mayor Myrick and leaders across the District to address the challenges facing the 23rd and to bring opportunity back to our area.”

Today, Tracy received the endorsement of Tioga County Democratic Committee Chair Diane Lechner. Lechner has served as Chair since 2014 and is known for her hard work, commitment to her community, and her dedication to getting Democratic candidates elected into office.

Lechner released the following statement on her endorsement:

“Today, I am pleased to announce my endorsement for Tracy Mitrano for Congress in the Democratic primary for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. I have tremendous respect for the hard work and determination demonstrated by all the primary candidates so far in this race, but I believe that Tracy is unique in her ability to connect with voters and articulate her vision for the district. We need a representative in Congress who appreciates the difficult choices middle-class families have had to make due to stagnant wages and underemployment … who understands national security issues, especially as they relate to US cyber-security … and who acknowledges that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Tracy Mitrano is the candidate who is most able to take Tom Reed to task on these issues and that’s why she has earned my support.”

This week, Democratic Congressional candidate Tracy Mitrano running in New York’s 23rd District received the endorsement of Jamestown City Councilwoman Vanessa Weinert. Weinert, who was born and raised in Jamestown, was sworn on to the Jamestown City Council in January.

About her endorsement of Mitrano, Weinert said the following:

“I am proud to endorse Tracy Mitrano for Congress. Tracy has all the qualities we desperately need in the 23rd. Out of all the candidates running, she has the most well-rounded background and the expertise needed to confront the many challenges facing our district. Our district is complex and constituents have many different political ideologies, and it will take a candidate who can bring us all together to win in November. Tracy was born and raised in Western New York and has lived her adult life in the Southern Tier. She appeals to people from many walks of life and across the 23rd. I firmly believe she can unite this district.

Tracy’s plans on important issues such as health care, infrastructure, jobs, education, and income inequality are equally impressive. A lot of development is happening in downtown Jamestown right now. Growing up in the City of Rochester, Tracy witnessed firsthand urban development. As a member of the Town of Ithaca’s Planning Board for 10 years, she can appreciate the housing issues that Jamestown faces. She wants to invest in municipal utilities even for the internet. Tracy has a futures-focused, creative vision for this District to bring about the economic growth we need.

Our community also wants to feel inspired by a candidate. The first time I met Tracy at an event in Jamestown, she had the entire crowd in awe and excited about working together to turn this District around. People of the 23rd want to feel like their voices are being heard and understood by its elected representatives. They want a candidate with a fresh perspective and one that will fight for them. That is what Tracy is all about.”

Regional leaders of the Working Families Party (WFP) have voted overwhelmingly to recommend endorsement of Democratic candidate Tracy Mitrano in NY-23 to the WFP. This all but guarantees Mitrano’s place on the ballot in November. The endorsement comes after an extensive application and interview process with each of the Democratic candidates running.

Sue Skidmore, former Mayor of Elmira and State Committee Member of WFP, said, “Tracy Mitrano is clearly the right candidate to take on Tom Reed. She has the best campaign structure and plan in place to win in November. Her deep roots to Western New York, extensive leadership experience, and her authentic connection with voters from all walks of life make her the ideal candidate.”

The WNY Vice Chair-Chautauqua Area of the WFP, Robert E Dando Jr, said, “Of all the candidates running, Tracy has the strongest vision and plan to turn things around in NY-23. Her plans to bring 21^st Century jobs to the 23^rd, develop local infrastructure, and defend access to affordable health care set her apart from other candidates running.”

In response to WFP’s endorsement, Tracy Mitrano released the following statement:

“I am truly appreciative to have received the Working Families Party’s support. WFP’s endorsement is essential to a successful primary in June and a win in the general election in November. With their support, I will proudly continue to fight for an economy that works for working and middle class people in this district, not just the one percent, and a democracy in which every voice is heard. Constituents in New York’s 23^rd District deserve to have access to good jobs, a quality education, and affordable healthcare, and that is exactly what I will work for in Congress.”