Ahead of the debate tonight between the two mayoral candidates, William Thompson received the backing of a law enforcement union which has backed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the past two elections.

The city’s second-largest law enforcement union, the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, announced this morning that it is throwing its weight behind Thompson, a Democrat, in the mayor’s race.

The endorsement represents a significant shift for the union, which supported Bloomberg when he ran for mayor in 2001 and again in 2005. The union has approximately 9,000 members.

The association’s president, Norman Seabrook, criticized Bloomberg for his push to extend term limits and said that Thompson has a has better vision for the city than his opponent. Seabrook also said the union would go to work for Thompson on the campaign trail.

“We are going to raise hell,” said Seabrook. “We are going to let people understand that there is time for change in New York City, because the middle class can no longer afford to be squeezed out of New York City. There are men and women who have to decide whether or not they are going to walk or whether or not they will put food on the table. Bill Thompson is a man who presses the flesh. Bill Thompson is a man who lives next door to someone who is suffering just like someone who is suffering down the street.”

Thompson is sure to bring up some of those same themes tonight when he shares the stage with Bloomberg for the first general election debate in the mayor’s race. The debate, which will air on NY1 at 7 p.m., is being held at El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem.

Bloomberg, meanwhile, spoke this morning at the Memorial Ceremony for the New York City Police Department to commemorate the lives of 10 police officers who died after working at the World Trade Center site. The city says their deaths may be the result of illnesses related to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

At tonight’s debate, the candidates will face off on issues like term limits, budget cuts and tax increases, education, and their own records.

Experts say both candidates have issues they should steer away from during the head to head.

“Thompson should avoid being vague,” said NYU Political Professor Patrick Egan. “He should be specific about what he would do and what he would change. Because a lot of New Yorkers are asking themselves, things are pretty good here in New York compared to other parts in the country, what can Thompson do to actually improve upon what the incumbent has done.”

Egan says Bloomberg should be careful about how he addresses the audience.

“I think Bloomberg has to stay away from sounding too arrogant, too imperious, too sure of himself,” Egan said. “Because the Thompson campaign is trying to play up the sense that Bloomberg is someone voters admire and respect, but do not necessarily like.”

New Yorkers said the issues they would like most for the candidates to address are education, housing, and taxes.

“I wanna hear about the schools, the overcrowding and whatnot,” said one Harlem resident.

“They talk about more taxes, less taxes, but then they keep increasing the taxes,” said another.

“I just wanna hear more about education,” said a third. “I got two daughters. I need them to have the best education possible.”

“Of course housing for middle-income people is probably the number one issue,” said another. “And, of course, quality education is another issue.”

The candidates will share the stage for 60 minutes.

Source: NY1