I am a founder of the Independence Party -- the third largest party in New York. I’m also an activist with the People’s Coalition for Nonpartisan Elections chaired by Dr. Lenora Fulani with vice-chairs Dr. Jessie Fields, Anthony Miranda (National Latino Officers Association), Eric Adams (100 Blacks in Law Enforcement), and Dr. Milton Stroud (National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives).

I am running for City Council with a simple and urgent platform --adopting nonpartisan elections. Nonpartisans is a critical reform that empowers the voter, the insurgent and the citizen activist. Nonpartisan elections have been endorsed by the AME Ministerial Alliance in Harlem, the Vulcan Society (Black firefighters) and many others.

Currently over 823,000 New Yorkers can’t vote in primaries because they are registered as independent or unaffiliated voters. That’s nearly 20% of the electorate who don’t have a voice in the critical first round of voting where, in most cases, the election is decided. Nonpartisans open the election to all voters who participate in every round, regardless of how they’re registered to vote.

Nonpartisan elections would eliminate the gate-keeping role played by the county Democratic Party organizations that keep insurgent candidates off the ballot. The party clubhouse system rewards party loyalty while nonpartisan elections encourages candidates with diverse backgrounds and accomplishments in business, community organizing and the arts, to run.

Opponents of nonpartisans have tried to say they’re fighting the reform because it favors rich white men but as the Amsterdam News reported, their fight is really with independent-minded voters.

Please call me to learn more and join this important effort: 212-281-1702.


(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

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