The city’s transit supervisors are set to vote against the MTA rank and file in the upcoming primary for Gotham’s comptroller.
The Subway-Surface Supervisors Association, the second largest city transit union, representing some 4,000 bus and subway supervisors, announced Friday it was backing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in his bid to become city comptroller.
“We need a Comptroller who understands the stakes for working people and is committed to protecting their rights,” SSSA president Michael Carrube said in a statement.
“Mark Levine has shown time and again that he stands with labor,” Carrube continued. “We trust him to safeguard the benefits and worker protections our union has fought so hard to secure.”
Levine, also in a statement, said he was “proud” for the union’s support, and pledged, if elected, “to make sure their retirement security is protected, their contracts are enforced, and their critical contributions are valued across New York City.”
The supervisors union’s backing comes after Transport Workers Union Local 100, the 40,000-strong union of rank-and-file bus and subway workers, threw its support behind Levine’s opponent — outgoing City Councilman Justin Brannan — in February.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News
Councilman Justin Brannan was endorsed by the Transport Workers Union Local 100. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News)
Levine, Brannan and Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar initially jumped into the comptroller’s race after incumbent Brad Lander announced in July that he was challenging Mayor Adams in this year’s election. Rajkumar, though, dropped out of the race earlier this year to instead run for city public advocate against incumbent Jumaane Williams.
The resulting contest between Levine and Brannan has shaped up into a highly competitive contest, with both candidates racking up high-profile endorsements and pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions.
So far, Levine has raised more money than Brannan, as the fast-approaching primary looms less than two months away.
The primaries for mayor, comptroller, public advocate and other local elected offices are set for June 24.
