(LANCASTER, NEW YORK) – If 15-year United University Professions (UUP) Member Ryan Taughrin had any doubts about his decision to run for the 143rd New York State Assembly seat, they were erased by a 78-year-old Woman he met on the campaign trail - who after listening to what he had to say told him he was the reason for her to go out and vote.

“That was ‘amazing,’” Taughrin (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photos) recounted to WNYLaborToday.com during a sit-down interview at his Lancaster Campaign Headquarters earlier this week. “‘I’ve got a story to tell to everyone in this community, that being in a Union absolutely has helped me get where I am.’ ‘I’m here because of our collective bargaining agreements, good pay, health care and a safe workplace.’”

“In my personal life ‘I grew up with some traumatic stuff’ (he was raised by a single Mother in South Cheektowaga in a family that lived paycheck-to-paycheck), but (by overcoming those traumas), ‘it gave me the opportunity to learn - and now finally make the decision to run and help others,’” continued Taughrin, whose wife, Holly, is a Member of the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) and teaches at the Harriett Ross Tubman School (Public School 31) on Buffalo’s East Side.

Taughrin is running against an incumbent Republican for the 143rd District that consists of Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Depew, Sloan and parts of Buffalo - a seat ironically and previously held for eight years by former UUP Member Monica Wallace.

“I knew her and knocked on doors for Monica (during her 2020 and 2024 campaigns),” he said.

If he wins, Taughrin would not only turn the seat Democrat, but rekindle the tradition of the seat being occupied by a UUP Member.

UUP Statewide President Fred Kowal told WNYLaborToday.com that Taughrin is a “strong, Union guy” who values “old-style” campaigning of “talking to people - one-on-one.”

“And it’s’ really important we have (Union Members and Leaders) running for public office because it seems (99%) who are in elected office come from the business or law communities.’ ‘Not to criticize that, but we need a lot of diversity - Farmers, Working People, Union folks - who can help people attain Middle-Class life.’ ‘Candidates that have Union values and work on behalf of Working People - not corporate interests.’ ‘That’s vitally important, as well as the fact he’s energizing young people to get involved and vote,’” he said.

Taughrin said of Kowal: “Fred ‘has always gotten it.’ ‘He sees through the weeds.’ ‘It’s all about the fight for Working People. Fred figured that out a long time ago.’ And when you’re ‘running with the backing of your Union, you’re not running alone.’ ‘I will always carry the UUP flag.’”

Out on the campaign trail, Taughrin has also been able to connect with young voters, in part, due to his experience of being the University of Buffalo’s (UB) Assistant Dean for Enrollment for the past six years.

“I’m ‘always talking to students and helping them promote their skill sets,’” he said.

Kat Kielar, who serves as President of UUP’s UB Chapter, bluntly tells WNYLaborToday.com Taughrin - who is a four-plus-year Officer of the Local Union and has been the Political Director of the Chapter: “We ‘would love to oust the Republican (incumbent).’ ‘We need to get (Taughrin) elected.’ (The Republican incumbent) ‘has been basically useless.’ ‘He hasn’t brought in much for the community.’ (Taughrin) ‘understands Working Families’ struggles and he’s very sympathetic to them.’ ‘And, he works with students and understands their problems.’ Labor’s ‘built this country and that’s what Labor is, from Corrections Officers to Health Care Workers and everyone in between.’ ‘We have to have a voice at the table and right now, we don’t - because rich people don’t care about (the Working Class).’”

Besides being endorsed by his own Union, Taughrin - who also tipped his cap to the advice and guidance he received from Louisa Fletcher-Pacheco, the Political Organizer at the New York Teachers Union (NYSUT) here in Western New York - has also received endorsements (to date) from the New York State AFL-CIO, NYSUT, the BTF, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4.

Taughrin told WNYLaborToday.com that when he was deciding whether or not to run for the State Assembly, he had a sit-down meeting with his wife and two daughters - who are now nine and 12, about what he was thinking of taking on, complete with all the pros and cons that go with not only running for public office, but what would happen if he won.

He didn’t have to wait too long to get an approval.

“My oldest daughter, who was eleven at the time, told me: ‘Dad, you have to do this,’” Taughrin said. “‘I know some people aren’t going to love you, but I still tell them what I think I can accomplish on their behalf in Albany.’ ‘I may be too optimistic - but telling my story the right way, in an ethical way, I can hold my head up high.’”

He began his campaign back in February collecting petition signatures “when it was sleeting and raining - ‘not the greatest of weather.’”

Now here he is, just a couple of weeks before the election.

Looking back, WNYLaborToday.com asked if he thought it has been worth it?

“‘Yes, absolutely’ - ‘and I would encourage others in the Labor Movement to do the same,’” Taughrin said. “‘You knock on doors, you tell your story and you absolutely feel the power within yourself to do something bigger than you believed.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: To find out where Ryan Taughrin stands on the issues, what his platform is and more on his personal background, Go To: Ryan Taughrin for NYS Assembly | Cheektowaga | Lancaster, New York, USA