Randi DiAntonio – PEF Vice President, SWPAC Chair

Thank you for visiting the PEF Political Action page. This page is specifically designed with resources and information to help you navigate the complex world of legislation and politics in New York state. I’d like to call your attention to some key items: Information about how to volunteer, and a tool to look up your state lawmakers.

Your PEF leadership team understands that the union’s involvement in political and legislative action is absolutely critical to you and every PEF member. We need to be involved because our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and in Albany enact laws and implement policies that impact the terms and conditions of your employment, as well as your health and retirement benefits.

We know that there are politicians who will use any excuse to cut your retirement benefits, increase your health care costs, eliminate your due process rights or privatize your job.  Your union makes sure you are represented and heard by monitoring bill introductions, attending and testifying at public hearings, conducting bill analyses, drafting new bills, developing amendments to pending bills and developing talking points and memoranda in support or opposition to pending legislation.

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PEF Political Endorsements - 2024

The PEF Executive Board endorsed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for President at their meeting on Aug. 2, 2024, following similar endorsements by our international parent unions, AFT & SEIU.

2024 U.S. Congressional Endorsements

2024 NYS Senate Endorsements

2024 NYS Assembly Endorsements

Legislative Priorities for 2025

The union's State and Federal Legislative Agendas

Working closely with the PEF Legislative Department, the Statewide PAC organizes and coordinates political activity on a statewide basis. Each Regional PAC Chair coordinates political activities and programs between the Statewide PAC and the Regional PAC.

Each year, the SWPAC receives membership input for our Legislative Agenda. With technical assistance from our Legislative staff, the SWPAC puts together a draft of our legislative priorities which is reviewed and approved by our Executive Board and then voted on by delegates at the union’s annual convention in the fall. Our agenda is then communicated to all state legislators and promoted throughout the legislative session.

2025 State Legislative Agenda

2025 Federal Legislative Agenda

Legislative Testimony - 2024

Dec. 13, 2024 | “Public Hearing on Programs for Incarcerated Individuals” | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

Dec. 3, 2024 | “SUNY Capital Funding – To Examine the Utilization of Capital Funding at Colleges and Universities” | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

May 15, 2024 | “The Current State of Workers’ Compensation and Areas of Improvement,” delivered to the Senate Standing Committee on Labor | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

Feb. 13, 2024: Joint Hearing on Mental Hygiene | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

Jan. 30, 2024: Joint Hearing on the State Workforce | Video (PEF testimony begins about 2:31:20)| Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

Jan 25, 2024: Joint budget hearing on public protection issues | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

Jan. 23, 2024: Joint Hearing on Health Proposals in the Executive Budget | Read PEF’s submitted written testimony

PEF Legislative Department

Roles and Contributions

Role of the Legislative Office:

Identify legislation/budget initiatives that will advance or endanger PEF members’ working conditions and other interests and working to stop or get approval of such legislation/budget initiatives.

Work with legislative leaders, legislators and their staffs to introduce and advance legislation identified as a priority in PEF’s State & Federal legislative agendas.
Coordinate PEF’s lobbying efforts at the federal, state, and local levels.
PEF Endorsement Process

Regional PACs interview and endorse candidates. Slates sent to SWPAC. Once approved, slate submitted to Executive Board, which includes PEF leadership, for review and final approval. PEF-endorsed candidates had a proven record of supporting PEF’s legislative and budget priorities.

Campaign Contributions – State and Federal

PEF’s contributions to state and local candidates come from members’ dues. These funds are held in its political action fund. New York State (NYS) Election Law sets the parameters for these contributions. Additionally, PEF has developed statewide PAC guidelines for the use of these monies.

PEF’s federal campaign funds come from voluntary member contributions to its Committee on Political Education (COPE) Fund. PEF works in concert with its two international unions – American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union – on federal elections and campaign funding and activities.

Legislative Staff:

Patrick Lyons – Legislative Director

Leah Gonzalez – Political Director

Scott Lorey – Political Organizer/Lobbyist-State

Danielle Blue – Legislative Assistant

Political Action Committee

Contact Information

Randi DiAntonio – Statewide PAC Chair
NYS-PEF
1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Road
Albany NY  12212-2414
585-615-2465 | Randi.DiAntonio@pef.org


Region 1 Chair – (Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Niagara, Wyoming)

Michele Iorfida

716-628-1233 | Michele.Iorfida@pef.org


Region 2 Chairs – (Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates)

Shelby Wisneski

585-313-0817 | Shelby.Wisneski@pef.org


Region 3 Chairs – (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne)

Leisa Abraham

585-232-6980 | Leisa.Abraham@pef.org

Gregory Salamida

610-360-8877 | Gregory.Salamida@pef.org


Region 4 Chairs – (Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca)

Monica Moore

315-471-2311 (office) 315-657-6506 (cell)| Monica.Moore@pef.org

Lisa Wells

315-638-7821 or 315-863-7574 (cell) | Lisa.Wells@pef.org


Region 5 Chairs – (Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins)

David Dubofsky

607-761-3021 | David.Dubofsky@pef.org

Scott Staub

607-222-7683 | Scott.Staub@pef.org


Region 6 Chairs – (Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton, Madison, Montgomery, Lewis, Oneida)

Christopher Dunham

315-731-7996 | Christopher.Dunham@pef.org

Dan Wheeler

315-725-7358| Daniel.Wheeler@pef.org


Region 7 Chair – (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence)

Barbara Stransky

(315) 528-8644 | Barbara.Stransky@pef.org


Region 8 Chair – (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington)

Danielle Bridger

518-320-5479 | Danielle.Bridger@pef.org


Region 9 Chairs – (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester)

Gabriela Franklyn

845-473-5022 or 646-610-1132 (cell) | Gabriela.Franklyn@pef.org

Dan McCormack

845-665-9167 | SrInvestigator@yahoo.com


Region 10 Chair – (Manhattan, Bronx)

Tamara Martin

917-553-2038 | Tamara.Martin@pef.org


Region 11 Chairs – (Kings, Queens, Richmond)

Bernadette O’Connor

347-350-5416 or 347-261-1110 | Bernadette.OConnor@pef.org

Charles Roland

917-846-6637 | Charles.Roland@pef.org


Region 12 Chair – (Nassau, Suffolk)

Corinne Testa

631-360-4360 or 516-465-2047 (cell)| Corinne.Testa@pef.org


Retiree Representative

Jim Carr

607-425-3267 | JCarr.Cortland@gmail.com


Trustee

Radhakrishna Mohan

347-630-1715 | Radhakrishna.Mohan@pef.org

Interested in joining our PAC?

PEF Political Action Volunteer Form

  • PEF Member Identification Number