Andrew Gounardes is currently the Senator for District 22; he chairs the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions, and has held this position since his 2018 election. As a freshman lawmaker, he sponsored bills to expand resources to 9/11 service people, promote pedestrian safety, support and reform the MTA, and increase
funding to public schools and universities. Gounardes’ campaign issues include passing greater workplace protections against sexual harassment in Albany, public transportation reform, increasing support for the LGBT community, funding public education and universities, and more. Gounardes further offers a substantial reform
platform on a wide variety of issues, including anti-corruption, voting reform, public financing of elections, strengthening independent investigations, and reforming the special elections process. He opposes Citizen Unions’ position on the new redistricting constitutional amendment, indicating that he supports the proposed changes, including ending prison gerrymandering and eliminating the supermajority vote requirement. Citizens Union was deeply impressed with Senator Gounardes, particularly with his extensive knowledge of the issues and their relation to the current legislation in development, as well as his understanding of the demands of the position in both the Senate and his district. Citizens Union particularly appreciated his forthright approach when discussing policy issues when he knew his position was not in line with the CU agenda. For these reasons, Citizens Union strongly endorses Andrew Gounardes in this race.