The Credit Union Association of New York has endorsed fourcongressional candidates based on meetings, credit union feedbackand legislative records.

Republican Chris Collins is CUANY's only conservative pick ofthe four, running against Democratic incumbent Rep. Kathleen Hochulto represent New York's 26^th District in Washington.

The CUANY said that while serving as Erie County executive, hereduced overall debt by more than $120 million, created a cashsurplus in excess of $100 million and earned approval of afour-year plan that will reduce the county's debt by another $100million by 2015.

“I am honored to have the support of the Credit UnionAssociation of New York. As someone who has spent the past 36 yearsin the private sector, creating or saving over 500 jobs here inWestern New York, I understand that growing small business is thekey to getting our economy back on track,” Collins said.

“Credit unions provide small business men and women with crucialfinancial support, allowing them to invest in their companies andcreate the jobs we need to grow this economy,” Collins said.

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries is running for New York's10^th District seat vacated by Rep. Edolphus Towns, aDemocrat who announced his retirement in April and was a CURIAco-sponsor. Jeffries is currently a New York state assemblyman,a member of the Assembly Banks Committee and sponsor of twopro-credit union state bills in 2012: field of membershiplegislation and the Banking Development District bill.

“I am proud to have the support of the Credit Union Associationof New York,” Jeffries said. “In the state assembly, I fought topromote the growth of credit unions as an incredibly importantbanking option for working families in the communities that Irepresent. I look forward to working with CUANY and taking thispartnership with me to Washington.”

Democrat Dan Maffei is seeking to recapture the congressional seat helost in 2010 to Republican Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle in the25^th District. While in Congress, Maffei served on theFinancial Services Committee and sponsored a bill to carve outcredit unions from contributing to the “too big to fail” fundrequired under the Dodd-Frank Act.

“Credit unions are such importantfinancial institutions within our communities. Themembers and the people who work at credit unions know andunderstand the needs of our local communities,” Maffei said. “As a member of a credit union, I am honored to be endorsedby the Credit Union Association of New York and Central New Yorkerswho provide such a valuable service to our localcommunities.”

Democrat Grace Meng is seeking the 9^th District seatvacated by Rep. Robert Turner, the Republican media executive whofailed to make the final ballot in New York's Senate race. Meng isa New York state assemblywoman who serves on the Assembly BanksCommittee. She has cosponsored and voted in favor of numerouspieces of credit union legislation during her tenure in theAssembly, the CUANY said.

“I am so honored to have been endorsed by the Credit UnionAssociation of New York,” Meng said. “Credit unions support ourcommunities and industries here in Queens, and they exemplifystrength and responsibility in financial management. Credit unionsare truly pillars of our community, and I look forward to workingwith them as a member of Congress.”