Before, during and after elections, there is always a great deal of discussion about the value of endorsements to political candidates. And while there is no readily available scientific analysis of the impact of organizational endorsements, one thing is very clear: Candidates crave the endorsement of the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

Why? There are lots of reasons, including our endorsements’ implications that the candidates are strong on law and order, are friends of police officers on the street, are in favor of safe streets and justice. Our endorsement implies that they are going to be tough on crime, a message that resonates strongly with most voters. And that helps people get elected.

PBA-endorsed candidates, with their law-and-order credentials, are also more successful in attracting campaign contributions from the private sector. Corporate leaders who recognize that their profits are tied to the safety of the streets on which they conduct business are more likely to support law-and-order candidates, financially and otherwise. Safe streets are business- and family-friendly streets, fertile ground for corporate investment and expansion.

The PBA’s endorsement also brings the likely support of more than 50,000 active and retired New York City police officers, which can come to more than 100,000 when you count their family and friends. Word of mouth is a very powerful communicator that can make or break a candidate’s career. Having tens of thousands of police officers showing interest in a candidate is a major asset to a campaign, affecting fund-raising, media visibility and, ultimately, the vote count.

In the 2005 elections, the PBA did remarkably well in helping the candidates of its choice become elected officials, particularly in the City Council where support on issues important to this union is vital. Almost all the candidates who ran for the Council with a PBA endorsement won their races.

In city races, the PBA endorsed a total of 56 candidates. Fifty-five of those won their respective races. Forty-nine of the races were for the Council where all but one PBA-endorsed candidate were victorious, a remarkable achievement. One of our Council candidates — Christine Quinn, who testified in support of the PBA at the last arbitration — has since been elected Council Speaker, the second most powerful post in city government.

The PBA also picked the winners in seven of the city’s major election contests, including William Thompson for Comptroller, Betsy Gotbaum for Public Advocate, Scott Stringer for Manhattan Borough President, Adolfo Carrion for Bronx Borough President, Helen Marshall for Queens Borough President, Marty Markowitz for Brooklyn Borough President and James Molinaro for Staten Island Borough President. Overwhelmingly, the 2005 elections were good for PBA-endorsed candidates.

Shortly after those elections, the PBA made a major political statement by becoming the first city union to endorse State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in his race for Governor. We did so because we believe he has the experience, the drive and the stamina to tackle the state’s highest position and we consider his law enforcement experience to be invaluable in considering issues that are important to all PBA members.

The PBA takes great care in deciding whom we will endorse for elective office.