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Earlier this week, the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee announced 150 winners of its 2009 Campaign Grants and Endorsements. Three are from Genesee County.

This information is from a press release:

The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee was designed to build a new generation of pro-choice Democratic women candidates, informed voters and activists in New York State. It was founded in 2001 by former New York State Democratic Committee Chair Judith Hope.

This year, the ERLC awarded Sara Burk-Balbi of Batavia an endorsement in her race for Batavia City Council-at-Large, Alice Burkhardt-Calmes of Darien an endorsement in her race for Town Clerk of Darien and Jennifer Keys of LeRoy an endorsement in her race for LeRoy Town Council.

Genesee County Democratic Chair Lorie Longhany said: "The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee’s endorsement is very important support for their campaigns and demonstrates confidence in their ability to win these offices. All three wonderful women are proud to be a part of Eleanor’s Legacy."

“To receive such an important endorsement is really an honor,” says Sara Burk-Balbi.  “Eleanor Roosevelt was not only an active First Lady of the United States, she was a front runner on the importance of women in our political system. Her support of women’s issues as well as the issues of children and families was astounding and life-long. I am proud to be one of three women in Genesee County to receive this honor.”

Keys stated: “This shows the commitment that the ERLC has in helping to elect women candidates across New York State. I accept their support with gratitude."

Alice Burkhardt-Calmes said: “I am pleased that this organization realizes the importance of women in local races. It shows their support of grassroots campaigns at the local level."

Since its founding, the ERLC has elected over 400 women to state and local office across New York State and equipped over 600 women with the skills they need to run and win. The ERLC endorses progressive women candidates with a demonstrated commitment to upholding a woman’s right to choose and to promoting the values of the Democratic Party. To be eligible, a candidate must be pro-choice, female, and an enrolled Democrat running for state or local office in the state of New York.

The ERLC will celebrate this year’s grantees at their Annual Fall Luncheon with special guests Abby Disney, Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. This year’s luncheon honors Geraldine Ferraro with the Pioneer in Politics – Lifetime Achievement Award.