Independent Political Organization Rounds Out Bipartisan Team of Candidates in CNY by Endorsing Al Stirpe for Assembly

Albany, NY – Upstate Jobs Party (UJP) today announced another major 2020 endorsement in Central New York, endorsing Assemblyman Al Stirpe for reelection.  In recent years, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, State Senator Bob Antonacci, and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon have been elected with the strong support UJP.  In this year’s highly important State Legislative races, UJP is including Assemblyman Al Stirpe to its bipartisan slate in the region, along with political newcomers Angi Renna and Sam Rodgers for State Senate.  UJP announced these endorsements and support for these candidates as the right choices in Central New York to aggressively pursue opportunities for private sector job growth, while focusing on reforming our education system, realigning economic development policy, boosting the innovation economy and leading holistic government reform in the State.

UJP recognized Stirpe’s long and steadfast commitment to the innovation economy and his leadership in investing in entrepreneurs.  In addition to his policy focus on improving the Upstate business climate, UJP leadership was impressed with Stirpe’s dedication to improving workforce development programs and Career and Technical Education to enable the workforce of the 21^st Century.  Assemblyman Stirpe has shown a clear focus on solving problems in education and economic development to help move the region forward with private sector job growth.

Martin Babinec said, “The Upstate Jobs Party looked across the State for the right kind of candidates to support and paid special attention to Central New York.  As a region where we’ve continued to support dynamic and talented leaders that have improved the Central New York economy, UJP views these races as vitally important. Knowing Al’s business acumen and experience, as well as his focus on improving our economy and growing jobs, he’s the right candidate to help lead the region forward.  We’re pleased he’s embraced UJP’s platform to reverse the outmigration of our talent and is committed to developing policy to enable private investment in our economy while reforming State government.”

For 2020, UJP has launched a platform with 4 main areas of focus – reforming a broken economic development system, overhauling our education system to empower teachers and students, supporting the innovation economy, and seeking holistic government reform.  UJP believes this focus will help stem the outflow of our young talent, getting government out of the way of investors and entrepreneurs, and fully reforming New York State government.  That platform can be found at www.UpstateJobs.org/platform.

New York State Assemblyman Al Stirpe said,“In the Assembly, I have been focused on supporting the innovation economy and establishing state policies that attract the high-tech industry and bring good-paying jobs to Upstate New York. The endorsement of the Upstate Jobs Party represents my work connecting people with these jobs and my support of the skill-based training that prepares workers for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow.”

Founded in 2016, the Upstate Jobs Party built support through the platform put forward by Martin Babinec, a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has helped hundreds of others start and grow companies in Upstate NY. Supporters of his independent Congressional bid came together following the 2016 election with commitments to stay involved in advancing UJP.

In 2017, Upstate Jobs Party supported independent candidate Ben Walsh, who successfully upset the political establishment by winning election as Syracuse Mayor on an Upstate Jobs Party line. In 2018 State Elections, three of the four candidates supported by UJP were elected, with six out of seven elected in local races in 2019.  Today’s announcement is one of several UJP endorsements for State offices statewide.

“As we continue to spread our message, we find more and more candidates and elected officials who believe that fostering an environment where new companies in innovation industries can succeed is the surest path towards creating a stronger economy in Upstate NY,” added John Bullis, UJP Chairman.

Significant resources, from the Independent Expenditure committee – Upstate Jobs Committee – will be committed to support the elections of candidates that believe in real policies to grow the Upstate economy in the 2020 campaign cycle. Volunteers interested in joining the effort to create more jobs in Upstate NY, keep our best and brightest talent from leaving to pursue opportunities elsewhere, and build a strong economy throughout the region are encouraged to visit www.UpstateJobs.org or www.VoteUpstateJobs.org to learn more.

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