Page 3 - Work Force April 2026

in Nassau County.
For CSEA members, the choice
isn’t about personalities or protest
votes. It’s about who will protect
our contracts, respect our work,
and understand that strong public
services require strong public
workers. On that score, Blakeman
simply doesn’t measure up.
Sheriff Todd Hood
Todd Hood, the Madison
County sheriff, was selected at the
Republican state convention to serve
as Bruce Blakeman’s running mate
for lieutenant governor. Elected
sheriff in 2018, Hood is a lifelong
Madison County resident who began
his law enforcement career with the
Madison County Sheriff’s Office and
later spent more than two decades
with the Syracuse Police Department,
including assignments with the gang
task force, SWAT team and the U.S.
Marshals Service regional fugitive
task force. CSEA has never endorsed
Hood in his elections.
Rhetoric vs. Record:
What to know about Bruce Blakeman
In February,
Nassau County
Executive Bruce
Blakeman officially
received his
party’s nomination
to run for
governor.
In the lead-up
to the nomination,
Blakeman
Blakeman has
publicly described himself as a
“pro-union” candidate while
criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s
relationship with organized labor.
That claim deserves scrutiny.
For working people and public
employees, labels matter far less
than actions. When Blakeman’s
record is examined, a clear gap
emerges between his rhetoric and his
governing decisions.
did not adequately correct, creating
These are not abstract policy
hardship for providers and working
differences. Taken together, these
families alike.
actions reflect a consistent pattern
Through it all, Blakeman sharply
in how the Blakeman administration
increased spending on outside legal
has approached worker protections,
counsel, including $20 million in 2025
staffing, and public accountability.
alone, despite already employing
For CSEA members, retirees and the
dozens of in-house attorneys.
communities they serve, the record
Millions of taxpayer dollars were
provides important context when
redirected away from public services
evaluating leadership and priorities.
while departments struggled to fill
vacancies. The county also relied
Labor action, not rhetoric
on reserve funds and one-time
CSEA members understand that
COVID-related funding to balance
supporting labor means more than
budgets, pushing long-term costs
rhetoric in a campaign speech
into future fiscal years.
or comments to media. It means
Blakeman’s tenure has also been
respecting collective bargaining,
marked by decisions that raised
honoring retiree commitments,
alarms well beyond labor. His
staffing public services responsibly,
attempt to create an armed civilian
and making fiscal choices that
“militia” with minimal training is
prioritize workers and communities
now facing legal challenges for
over political optics.
violating state law. At the same time,
Hochul has consistently
A record at odds with union values
three seats were left vacant on the
engaged with organized labor
As Nassau County executive,
Nassau University Medical Center
and with CSEA, recognizing that
Blakeman has taken repeated actions
board, delaying progress at the
public services depend on a stable,
that directly harmed union members,
county’s safety-net hospital. Hochul
respected workforce. That record
retirees and public services. His
provided the hospital with much-
stands in contrast to Blakeman’s
administration attempted to force
needed funding and strong board
actions as an executive with direct
county employees into a high-
appointments.
authority over our union members
deductible health plan that conflicted
with existing collective bargaining
agreements. It also sought to reduce
or eliminate retiree health benefits
that workers had earned over
decades of service, forcing retirees
to go to court to protect what was
negotiated. Retirees prevailed in
court.
County departments under
Blakeman remain severely
understaffed, including essential
services such as emergency
communications. Rather than
prioritize hiring and rebuilding the
public workforce, the county has
outsourced millions of dollars in
public works projects, undermining
stable union jobs and weakening
long-term capacity.
CSEA/VOICE Local 100A child care
providers experienced months-long
reimbursement delays because of
administrative failures the county
April 2026 3
The Work Force
— Bryan Miller
CSEA members fight for legislative priorities
From left, Assemblymember Michael Durso, Nassau
County Police Communications Operators Unit
Vice President Kelli Martucci and Broome County
1st Vice President Mike Woolever discuss public
safety issues outside Assembly Chambers during
Lobby Day to advocate for 911 operators
throughout the state.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, CSEA Legislative
Representative Alex George and Nassau County Local
activist Donna Worsley-Hines discuss important issues
during the 2026 Lobby Days.
See page 8 for more.