Winner'08 News
Elmira, N.Y., October 7--The
Police Conference of New York, a 25,000-member organization representing
police officers and law enforcement agencies locally and statewide, has
endorsed the re-election of State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira)
in the 53rd Senate District.
The Police Conference of New York is one of the state’s oldest and most
highly regarded police advocacy groups. It represents the interests of 214
police associations, eight regional police conferences, and one association
representing retired officers, including the following local associations:
Chemung County DI Police Benevolent Association (PBA); Elmira Heights PBA;
Elmira Town PBA; Hornell PBA; Horseheads PBA; Ithaca PBA; and Painted Post
PBA.
Police Conference President Richard Wells, in a letter to Winner informing
him of his group’s endorsement, wrote, "The Police Conference of New
York, Inc., founded in 1925, has as its objectives the protection of the
interests of police officers, the sponsorship of legislation perceived to
be in their best interest, and the giving of aid and assistance to police
officers and police organizations."
Winner, who has long been noted for his strong support for law enforcement,
has been a member of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee
since taking office in the Senate in 2005.
He welcomed the Police Conference’s support.
"We can approve a thousand laws, but they don’t mean a thing without
the day-by-day courage and dedication of our police officers. Every single
day they’re the first line of defense against crime in our neighborhoods
and on our streets. They earn our respect, and they deserve our support,"
said Winner. "It means a great deal to me when police officers express
their confidence in my commitment to their concerns, their well-being, and
to providing the resources and laws they need to effectively do their jobs."
In his first year in the Senate, 2005, Winner was instrumental in putting
together a bipartisan coalition within the state Legislature that produced
New York’s first comprehensive strategy to combat the illegal production
and use of methamphetamine. The enactment of the 2005 anti-meth law, which
Winner sponsored in the Senate, came on the heels of a state
report that identified the Southern Tier as a hotbed of illegal meth
activity.
"Prior to our bipartisan, urgent action in 2005, New York law was hanging
out a ‘welcome’ sign to illegal meth manufacturers. We needed to put in
place a strategy to put them out of business," said Winner. "We
gave our communities a chance to fight back. Early on in this effort, I
stressed the importance of a regional army of law officers, district attorneys,
legislators, news reporters, educators and concerned citizens to help defend
our communities. That remains true. We must remain vigilant."
Winner’s 53rd Senate District encompasses all of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties, and a portion of Tompkins County (the city and town of Ithaca, and the towns of Enfield, Newfield, and Ulysses).
He was first elected to the State Senate in 2004 and re-elected in 2006.
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