NEW YORK – New York’s watchdog, Citizens Union announced its preference of New York State women’s rights leader, Aravella Simotas in her campaign for re-election in Assembly District 36 in northwest Queens. The union is best known for their commitment to reforming New York City and State government. Since 1897, the union has fought to hold government officials to ethical standards by promoting and encouraging transparency, accountability, and accessibility in governance.

“Simotas supports Citizens Union’s reform agenda and promises to work to replace JCOPE with an independent enforcement agency to investigate ethics complaints, and pledges to advocate for meaningful campaign finance reforms. Simotas’ main campaign issues include women’s rights, the Green New Deal, affordable housing, criminal justice reform, healthcare, unions, education, transportation, and economic justice. Citizens Union prefers Simotas in this race because she is an established and accomplished community leader and has a proven record of passing significant pieces of legislation,” they listed on their voter directories website.

“It is an honor to earn the trust of Citizens Union,” said Assembly Member Simotas. “Open and honest government is what New Yorkers deserve, and Citizens Union fights for nothing less. I am proud to have their support and will continue to advocate for policy proposals that are crucial to a well-functioning, ethical democracy in New York.”

Simotas’ legislative accomplishments include passing a landmark bill making sweeping changes to New York’s employment law to strengthen protections against workplace harassment and discrimination. She is also a fierce advocate for legislation pertinent to reform issues, including election reform, ethics reform, and police accountability. Recently, she sponsored a bill that would let voters apply for absentee ballots electronically to ensure COVID-19 didn’t infringe on the right to vote during the Presidential election in November.

Simotas has also been endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters,Vote Mama, CWA, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, 32BJ SEIU, LIUNA NY, 1199SEIU, Teamsters Local 831, Stonewall Democrats of NYC, UFCW Local 1500, NASW NYC-PACE, Planned Parenthood Empire State Votes Pac, Eleanor’s Legacy, National Institute for Reproductive Health, New York State AFL-CIO, Alliance of South Asian American Labor, UFT, NYSUT, PSC-CUNY, New York State Nurses Association, Doctors Council SEIU and True Blue NY. The primary will be held on June 23.

To learn more, visit www.aravella.com.