WADDINGTON -- United Auto Workers Region 9 is endorsing Alex Hammond for New York State Assembly District 116.

Hammond, the current Waddington town supervisor, is the Democratic nominee for the River District, the 116th NYS Assembly District and is trying to unseat Republican Mark Walczyk.

“Our members endorse Alex Hammond for the New York Assembly because he knows and understands the challenges facing hard-working middle-class Americans in today’s challenging environment. Alex will work to reign in the abuse of corporate power over working people and hold corporate executives personally accountable for violations of labor laws, encourage and incentivize unionization and collective bargaining, ensure that workers are treated with dignity and receive the pay, benefits and workplace protections they deserve, and ensure we expand access to affordable quality health care. Alex Hammond is the union candidate. The North Country needs him in Albany,” said ​Jeff Binz, director of United Auto Workers Region 9.

United Auto Workers Region 9 covers western and central New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, excluding the counties of Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York. Region 9 members work in automotive, aerospace and steel industries, and include members at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Members make doors, quarter panels, hoods, fenders and other stamped parts for Ford F-150, 250 and 350 trucks, Flex, Edge, Focus, Econoline vehicles, and for Lincoln MKX and MKTs. Members also build the V-22 Osprey troop transport helicopter and the Chinook medium-lift helicopter at the Boeing facility in Philadelphia.

“The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America, with members in virtually every sector of the economy. I am honored to have their endorsement. We depend on the hard work of the union’s members every day when we drive to work, pick up food for our families at the supermarket, or drop our children off at school. As a Democrat, I will be part of the room where things happen in Albany, but as a North Country Democrat, I will ready to work with both Democrats and Republicans to find the best way forward for our district. I will work with my colleagues to deliver results for the members of the UAW and for all workers and families in our communities,” said Hammond.