Democratic state Senate candidate David Yassky this week received the endorsement of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats as he runs for a district that covers parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn. 

The endorsement from the organization is its first in the campaign to succeed outgoing state Sen. Diane Savino. 

And it's potentially a key one for Yassky, who is competing against several Staten Island-based candidates for the seat. Yassky is a former city council member who has previously served as the chairman of the New York City Taxi and Livery Commission and later in the governor's office. 

“I am so grateful to be endorsed by the Independent Neighborhood Democrats. IND members are known for their commitment to civic engagement and independent progressive politics and I am proud to have their support," Yassky said in a statement. "Working with neighborhood-based groups to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods is what drew me to politics in the first place and I look forward to carrying on with that work as a state senator.”