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 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.
A record at odds with union values
As Nassau County executive, Blakeman has taken repeated actions that directly harmed union members, retirees and public services. His administration attempted to force county employees into a high-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 did not adequately correct, creating hardship for providers and working families alike.
Through it all, Blakeman sharply increased spending on outside legal counsel, including $20 million in 2025 alone, despite already employing dozens of in-house attorneys. Millions of taxpayer dollars were redirected away from public services while departments struggled to fill vacancies. The county also relied on reserve funds and one-time COVID-related funding to balance budgets, pushing long-term costs into future fiscal years.
Blakeman’s tenure has also been marked by decisions that raised alarms well beyond labor. His attempt to create an armed civilian “militia” with minimal training is now facing legal challenges for violating state law. At the same time, three seats were left vacant on the Nassau University Medical Center board, delaying progress at the county’s safety-net hospital. Hochul provided the hospital with much-needed funding and strong board appointments.
These are not abstract policy differences. Taken together, these actions reflect a consistent pattern in how the Blakeman administration has approached worker protections, staffing, and public accountability. For CSEA members, retirees and the communities they serve, the record provides important context when evaluating leadership and priorities.
Labor action, not rhetoric
CSEA members understand that supporting labor means more than rhetoric in a campaign speech or comments to media. It means respecting collective bargaining, honoring retiree commitments, staffing public services responsibly, and making fiscal choices that prioritize workers and communities over political optics.
Hochul has consistently engaged with organized labor and with CSEA, recognizing that public services depend on a stable, respected workforce. That record stands in contrast to Blakeman’s actions as an executive with direct authority over our union members 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.
— Bryan Miller