‘Unlike her opponent, Mazi Pilip will not regularly vote with and beg for honorary membership in the “Squad” of U.S. Representatives working to vilify and defund police,’ the union president said.
By Larry Celon and Allie Griffin | The New York Post
The NYPD Sergeants’ Union is backing Republican Mazi Pilip for the Congressional seat vacated by disgraced George Santos — in a slap to former Rep. Tom Suozzi.
The 13,000-member Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) announced its endorsement of Pilip on Sunday — just over two weeks ahead of the Feb. 13 special election to fill New York’s 3rd congressional district seat.
“Whether it has been her support for funding more police, her opposition to cashless bail for dangerous criminals, or her efforts to address the migrant crisis, Mazi Pilip has been unwavering in her support for law enforcement and keeping New Yorkers safe,” SBA President Vincent Vallelong said in a statement.
Vallelong also used the endorsement announcement to slam Suozzi — who represented the district covering parts of eastern Queens and Nassau County for six years before stepping down in 2022 to launch an unsuccessful bid for governor.
“Unlike her opponent, Mazi Pilip will not regularly vote with and beg for honorary membership in the ‘Squad’ of U.S. Representatives working to vilify and defund police,” the union president said.
“We can trust her to stand up to these extremists in Congress who are trying to turn the world upside down by defunding police and discouraging people from pursuing careers in the noble profession of law enforcement.”
Pilip has received support from a slew of law enforcement organizations, including the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, Nassau County Detectives Association, Nassau County Sheriffs-Corrections Officers Benevolent Association and the Superior Officers Association of Nassau County.
The GOP candidate, a married mother with seven children now serving a second term as a Nassau County legislator, is a former Israeli Defense Force paratrooper and native of Ethiopia.
She was elected to represent the 10th district in Nassau County in 2021 — defeating fourth-term incumbent Suozzi by seven percentage points.
Pilip and Suozzi are battling in a tight race.
A recent Emerson College/PIX11 poll found that 45% of registered voters supported Suozzi and 42% backed Pilip. ##