29952: Minsky: (news) Haitian candidate joins 10 others (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tequila Minsky <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>

Haitian Candidate joins 10 others in an electoral race for
New York City Council.  http://heritagekonpa.com/hkhome.htm

Dr. Mathieu Eugene is among 11 candidates that is a real horse race for
the 40th New York City Council District in central Brooklyn, a seat
vacated by Yvette Clarke, newly elected to the House of
Representatives.

At the end of last year, an ad hoc committee of 23 Haitians, recruited
from various sectors of the Haitian community, picked to support
someone else, consensus candidate Ferdinand “Freddy” Zizi, a research
consultant for SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish
Medical Center. The goal of the committee was to back one strong
Haitian candidate, not split the Haitian vote, the hope to
getting—which would be the first—a Haitian elected into a New York City
office.

Dr. Eugene who had participated in the selection process —which also
included Georges Boursiquot, Rita Joseph, Yves Rene, and Emmanuel Roy,
was not the candidate chosen. He also hadn’t signed a form committing
to honor the committee’s decision   anticipating the backing of the
local   Democratic club that had supported the incumbent.

With two Haitians contending for a seat in an otherwise over crowded
field, Mr. Zizi withdrew his candidacy last week to “ensure that the
goal of the Haitian-American Leadership Council (HALC) to have one
candidate campaigning remains achievable.”
Mr. Zizi highlighted health care disparities in his short-lived
campaign.

Dr. Eugene is involved with the Progressive Democratic Club Political
Association (PDPA) on Flatbush Avenue that backed the election of
Yvette Clarke to City Council; he anticipated her endorsement, which he
received to   much fanfare at City Hall last Sunday.

Name recognition, ethnic allegiances, and party backing are often seen
paths to garnering votes. This City Council race offers an opportunity
for a new face to enter New York City politics. Organization and
mobilization of the base is necessary to win when several candidates
are vying for very few votes in the middle of winter.  Expect a photo
finish end.