So, I have changed the name of this particular column; and it’s not just to mess with my detractors in blogland with their demeaning satire. It’s also because I will try to go beyond the first-hand experiences and insights, and get into some more of the mundane political gossip and innuendo floating around out there, in between the grapevine and the pumpkin vines (since in many instances things do relate); especially since there are times when I get little or no corroboration / collaboration for some of my pieces- from those in power or those in the know. I will try to get to the analysis behind the analysis, if you catch my drift. So call or e-mail Cousin Rocky with scoops folks/lol.
This full column is dedicated to the race to replace Yvette Clarke, in New York’s 40th council district.
Based on information and belief there were thirteen candidates who filed for this special election-to be held next month (Feb.20th). As far as I am informed, this is the list in alphabetical order: Mozell Albright, Mathieu Eugene (first-generation Haitian–American), Karlene Gordon (Jamaican), Jesse Hamilton (US-born), Gerry Hopkins (Grenada), Jennifer James (Costa Rica), Zenobia McNally (Panama), Mohammad Razvi (Pakistan), Harry Schiffman (white/Jewish), Wellington Sharpe (Jamaica), Joel Toney (St. Vincent), Leithland Tulloch (Jamaica) and Ferdinand Zizi (Haiti). As of this writing, I don’t know Ms. Albright’s race or ethnicity. As far as I know, Schiffman is the only white candidate.
This district is roughly 66% black, 16% Hispanic, 13% white and 5% Asian. It has a very heavy immigrant population (mainly from the Caribbean). The median income is about $41,000, and the unemployment rate is said to be a little over 10% (Gotham Gazette). It is physically located in the dead center of Brooklyn.
For those who have been following my columns here, you can see that my post-filing info was pretty accurate-though not perfect. I picked up near all of these candidates on the radar. Notably missing as filers were Anthony Alexis and Victor Babb; both of whom had announced intentions to run in this race (with some fanfare). I didn’t pick up Ms. Albright until very late in the petition process. I got an e-mail from a Caribbean-American political activist who resides in Maryland, trying to involve me in Babb’s campaign. I also got one forwarded to me originating from Horace Morancie-a well known Trinidadian- in support of Alexis. Whatever happened to those two candidacies, I will try to find out later on. Many of the candidates contacted me directly or through intermediaries. It is public knowledge that I am on the Sharpe campaign.
So this is it, we are down to nine men and four women. For those who think this field is large, let me inform you that in the race to fill the seat of Harold Forde (the black congressman from Tennessee, who tried to move up to the senate last year), initially there were many more candidates than this. There was only one white in that race. When the smoke cleared, the white candidate won the seat, lessening the already low number of the black caucus in Congress. Do you think this can’t happen here folks? Let me know.
My intelligence sources are saying that a few of these filers are at risk of not getting to the ballot; either because they filed low numbers, or because of technical defects in their petition. These are Albright, Gordon, Schiffman, Hopkins and Zizi. They further say that both Tulloch and Razvi are suspect, meaning weaknesses in the petition sphere and also in terms of campaign infrastructure relative to the post-petition phase. They say that Toney remains a real question mark, an unknown commodity and likewise factor. They are saying that somewhere between the remaining five (Hamilton, Sharpe, McNally, James and Eugene) lies the winner. I believe that the race is still up for grabs, and I refuse to rule out anyone who survives the ballot access phase. I do think there is a top four grouping (leave out James off the last five mentioned), from which I expect the winner to emerge, and yet in a special election like this, someone (relatively unknown) could get lucky on election night. Will that someone be Joel Toney? Or could it be Jennifer James? We will see shortly.
Let me just do a synopsis of each candidate, to the best of my knowledge.
Mozell Albright was once employed by the 1199 Health Workers Union- at least, so I am told. It is said that when they didn’t bless her run here, she quit the job and the union to run on her own. You all in out-there-land can tell me if my info is accurate, or even partially accurate.
Mathieu Eugene is the controversial candidate here folks. People are saying that Una and Yvette Clarke are really playing some strange cards here, by going with this guy. They are saying that he has pronounced difficulty in coherently articulating issues in the English language, and that this endorsement could only be a payback for his years of loyalty to the Clarkes. They say that his programs are funded by the Clarkes, and that he is an unknown to the voters of this district. They seriously doubt that the Clarkes and their political club can put this guy over-even with the possible help of “1199”. Plus, it is being said that Eugene entered willingly into a binding consensus candidate process within the Haitian community- with the objective of finding one Haitian candidate for this race. He is being called a sore loser, since after not being selected, he went off and entered the race anyway; violating his agreement and breaking his word to many prominent Haitian- American activists-to support the winner of the process. They are pissed off. They say that he can’t be entrusted this seat.
In some segments of the Haitian community, Yvette Clarke is taking a beating. Some are rehashing her intervention and support for councilmember Kendall Stewart, after he disrespected the Haitian community in 2002, with some insensitive and disparaging remarks. They believe that she is trying to make inroads into the Haitian-American community, since the Owens (Major and Chris) usually get most of the Haitian vote, and since she is deathly afraid that Chris will challenge her again next year, using the white vote as a starting or building block/base (and maybe, plus the Haitian vote).
On the topic of Yvette Clarke, here is a story for you. In the buildings where Café Omar is located, there are posters of various elected officials. Now, for those who don’t know, the owner of this establishment (and attendant buildings) is council member Kendall Stewart. The location is on a corner of Nostrand Avenue and Clarendon Road in central Brooklyn. On a wall inside, there was a poster of Yvette Clarke from some previous campaign. One of the words that was highlighted on said poster was the word “honest”; being used there to describe one of her attributes. A person standing next to me said, “How can they do a poster like that with a straight face, given that for almost twenty years she lied about her college degree (which she never obtained)”. I said to the individual,”let it go”. The person ignored me, and continued, “But she used this non-existent degree to obtain jobs and stuff, for which she wasn’t qualified, even her council seat; that’s dishonest”. The person further went on to say that it’s shameful to use that word (honest) on a poster knowing what they knew. All I could say was (again), “let it go”. I bring this up only to say that Yvette needs to correct this problem before it bites her in the ass (again). But who is going to listen to Cousin Rocky folks; I am after all (as one prominent female ex-elected official put it): persona non-gratis to most of Brooklyn’s black elected officials.
This brings me to Ferdinand Zizi. Word on the street is that his candidacy is faltering. They say it is in need of mouth to mouth resuscitation. The same (and worse) is being said for the campaigns of Gordon and Tulloch. Joel Toney sounded like a real trooper last week when he refused to attack/condemn the Clarkes for jilting him at the altar. Toney-whose candidacy was encouraged by the Clarkes-, had lost out on their endorsement. He says that he still supports them in their political endeavors. Joel- a former diplomat- is still shuttling his diplomacy it seems. I personally wish him luck in this race. He is probably going to need it. Joel is a well qualified candidate in terms of negotiation skills, he once worked at the United Nations I am told. If he gets to the council these skills will be tested I am sure.
The Pakistani candidate Monhammad Razvi is something of an unknown here. I vaguely remember meeting him a few years ago, at some event in that East Indian corner of the district. I don’t think he has the mass appeal to cross racial and ethnic lines, and I don’t think the numbers are there for a victory propelled by his base. Speaking of bases; if Wellington Sharpe is the only Jamaican-born candidate to remain on the ballot in this race, he will be dangerous folks. There are many Jamaicans in this district, and they are pretty loyal to their countrymen. Sharpe continues to pick up support, naming Ruth Whitney (a former candidate in this district) as another endorsee. He filed over 4000 signatures and is highly confident that he would survive any challenges to his petition. He claims to be the only candidate showing a diversity of support in all racial, ethnic and nationalistic pockets. His detractors say that he has run too many times to win this one. What do you think folks?
The presumed favorite in this race is Jesse Hamilton, the district leader from the 43rd assembly district. Hamilton-a long time community leader and activist- is coming in off a victory in last year’s primary. Some people think that Jesse’s strength is in the northern part of his AD, which is not covered in this council district. Some are saying that Jesse is really keeping his name alive and out-there, in hope of challenging assemblyman Camara again next year, and that he is a false favorite who will not do well. Personally, I think Jesse is a fine candidate. He has paid a lot of dues. There are some who believe that he should be holding the seat that Clarence Norman was forced to vacate, and not the present occupant. I guess I am one of those who feel that way.
Many people seem to like Zenobia McNally’s chances here folks. Two of last year’s candidates, Terry Hinds (58AD) and Saquan Jones, were both sighted as signatories (petition-carriers) for McNally. Her few detractors claim that she is a single-issue candidate (homeless shelter). Does anyone know who Chris Owens is supporting in this race (between McNally and Hamilton, I guess)?
Harry Schiffman isn’t generating much support in the areas where I peregrinate folks. An impeccable source told me that he showed up at 320 Sterling Street for their last tenant’s meeting, carrying some Negroes bearing petitions for folks to sign; I am told that the reception was lukewarm at best.
Of Jennifer James and her candidacy, the word is that the Harlem political folks are looking for a bunker (or is it beach-head) in central-Brooklyn, and that she is being used in this trial balloon. Her detractors seem to frown upon the fact that she has no real roots here and no history of activism in this area. They say she is a Billy Joel person (“uptown girl”). Many folks think that of all the candidates in this field, she one of two who shouldn’t be running. I think everyone should run; it’s their constitutional right. What do you think?
ROCK’S BETTING LINE (subject to change after the legal challenges).
Jesse Hamilton, 3-1
Mathieu Eugene, 7-2
Wellington Sharpe, 4-1
Zenobia McNally, 6-1
Harry Schiffman, 8-1
Joel Toney, 10-1
Jennifer James, 12-1
Ferdinand Zizi, 15-1
Leithland Tulloch, 20-1
Gerry Hopkins, 25-1
Mohammed Razvi, 50-1
Karlene Gordon, 100-1
Mozell Albright, 100-1
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Stay tuned-in folks.