With the UFT’s support, Farah Louis won the special election on May 14 to fill the New York City Council seat left vacant by Jumaane Williams when he became the city’s public advocate.

Louis, who was Williams’ deputy chief of staff for six years, emerged the winner with 42 percent of the vote in an eight-way race in the 45th Council District in Brooklyn.

“The City Council and the community both win with the election of Farah Louis, a true voice for our public schools,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

More than 200 UFT members volunteered their time to help elect Louis. In the weeks leading up to the election, in-service UFT members called fellow members in the district at seven union phone banks in the UFT’s Brooklyn borough office and retirees participated in three phone banks at UFT headquarters in Manhattan. The UFT also set up five mobile phone banks in the district, bringing the total number of calls made for Louis into the thousands.

On Election Day, UFT members canvassed the district and handed out pro-Louis leaflets at several school polling sites before and after the school day. The union also sent email and text reminders to members in the district to vote for Louis.

Louis grew up in a union household and attended Midwood HS in Flatbush. Flatbush, along with East Flatbush, Midwood, Canarsie and other areas of central Brooklyn, will now be represented by Louis in the City Council.

“I will be an advocate for public schools, a voice for our children and a reminder that public education is an investment, not an expense,” she promised.