By: Maury Thompson
End Citizens United, a Democratic political action committee advocating for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court “Citizens United” campaign finance decision on Tuesday announced its endorsement of Democratic candidate Mike Derrick in the 21st Congressional District race.
“After spending three decades protecting our national security in the Army and the State Department, Mike Derrick is running for Congress to fight for New Yorkers in his district,” said Tiffany Miller, the PAC’s executive director.
Derrick, a retired Army colonel from Peru, in Clinton County, is running against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello, a bread company owner and political activist from Hudson Falls.
Adam Bozzi, spokesman for End Citizens United, would not specify the PAC’s plans to assist Derrick’s campaign or independently support Derrick or oppose other candidates in the race.
“I won’t reveal our hand,” he said. “But here are some of the ways we have helped other endorsed candidates: campaign donations, connecting grassroots activists to their campaigns, helping them with messaging around these issues, connecting local volunteers with their campaigns, and independent expenditures.”
Bozzi said the PAC did not interview Funiciello, who does not accept any corporate, labor union or PAC contributions.
“Our goal is to support viable candidates to build a Democratic majority because that is how we will overturn Citizens United …,” he said.