Hotel Trades Endorses Gentile In NY-11

The powerful Hotel and Motel Trades Council (HTC) has endorsed Democratic candidate Vincent Gentile in his bid for the open seat in New York's 11th Congressional District, left vacant by Michael Grimm's resignation following a guilty plea on tax evasion charges.

"Vinnie has a proven record, not only of standing up and fighting for the issues that are important to our members, but of delivering real, tangible results for all New Yorkers," said Josh Gold, HTC's political director. "Whether it's public safety, quality jobs, public education, responsible development or economic equality, Vinnie has always been in our corner and I look forward to continuing to work with him as part of New York’s congressional delegation in Washington."

Gentile is considered by many to be the underdog against Republican candidate Dan Donovan in the Republican-leaning district that encompasses all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn. But in a special election voter turnout is key, and since this one falls on May 5, a nontraditional election date, the union's power to get voters to the polls could prove invaluable for the Brooklyn Democrat.