By Helen Klein
They stretched across the front of the room, a line of 11 political hopefuls, most dressed in black. The scene was the 40th Councilmanic District candidates forum sponsored by the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, in conjunction with Democracy for New York City, Assemblymember James Brennan, State Senators Eric Adams and Kevin Parker, the Stonewall Democratic Club and Animal Friendly NYC. Held at the Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church, 424 East 19th Street, the forum was the latest in a series that has showcased the many players in the political drama gripping central Brooklyn: Who will be the person to succeed former Councilmember Yvette Clarke, who moved on to Congress in January? Eleven of the 13 candidates who had filed petitions in the race showed up to participate. That included all of the candidates who had been put on the ballot by the New York City Board of Elections — Mathieu Eugene, Karlene Gordon, Jesse Hamilton, Jennifer James, Zenobia McNally, Mohammad “Moe” Razvi, Harry Schiffman, Wellington Sharpe, Joel Toney and Leithland “Rickie” Tulloch – plus one of the three who had been knocked off the ballot, Gerry Hopkins who, on the evening of the forum, said that he was hoping to be reinstated the next day (though he was not). While their remarks didn’t offer a great deal of contrast – sharing a markedly similar list of priorities and approaches – the candidates did come across as individuals. “All the candidates are going to tell you they are for the same things,” James, for her part, succinctly noted. These include supporting an increase in funding for education, fighting for benefits for small businesses, advocating for affordable housing, protecting the existing streetscape and distinctive historic architecture, and working across ethnic lines to make sure the disparate constituencies within the district are all served and brought together. Meeting the Voters Thus, the way they present themselves, some say, may make the difference between winning and losing in a race with lots of candidates and potentially few actual voters – those who will come out for a special election on a possibly wintry February day when kids are off from school. Also in play are a variety of ethnic issues. There is one white Jewish candidate on the ballot (Schiffman), as well as a Pakistani candidate who is trying to become the city’s first Pakistani elected official, as well as the city’s first Muslim elected official (Razvi), and one Haitian candidate (Eugene), who is trying to become the city’s first Haitian elected official. Eugene said that he had always been, “An activist and community leader. For 14 years, I’ve dedicated myself to serve a category of people close to my heart, the under-served, under privileged children.” To that end, he said, he had, “Created the YES community center to provide services” that were needed, including tutoring, mentoring and recreation. He has also provided referral services for immigrants, Eugene said, as well as free health services “in order to decrease the health disparity,” and he said he had worked with Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes to provide domestic violence services. Education Focus Gordon, for her part, explained that she had, “Decided to run in this race because I have two children, both of whom went to public schools in the city. I had the displeasure of seeing the deterioration of our schools.” Learning that the Department of Education had decided to close and restructure three high schools in the borough, “As a result of failing grades, I decided I must do something about that,” Gordon added. “This comes as a wonderful opportunity to do something.” Beyond education, Gordon spoke of domestic violence. She said she was the founder of an organization for survivors of domestic violence, another attribute, she contended, that makes her, “An extremely good candidate.” Like many of the others, Hamilton told his listeners that he had worked for the community for years. Recently, he noted, he had been elected district leader. On School Board 17, he said, he had worked to help not only children but their parents, starting a GED program for the latter. “I’m not talking about what I’m going to do. I’m talking about what I’ve done as a community activist,” he stressed. Hamilton also said he had worked on the effort to landmark North Crown Heights. “We can do the same thing here in Victorian Flatbush,” he told the crowd. A key, he said, is to, “Make sure we have affordable housing but still keep the quality of life of the community.” Campaign Pro James depicted herself as a campaign professional, who views the race, “As the perfect opportunity to implement all the things I’ve wanted to do for years.” She said that she was, “The strongest candidate” because she had “put together the strongest team. I’m doing all the things I need to do, reaching across the district to all people to give you representation in all parts of the district. It’s not my intention,” James concluded, “to be the representative of any one group.” McNally, who ran against Clarke for the seat in 2005, and garnered about 22 percent of the vote, said she was, “The best candidate because I represent diversity, and I’m not just talking about ethnic lines. I’m talking about people who have disabilities, people who have different sexual orientations.” McNally said that she had decided to find out what issues are particularly important to district residents by asking them. She also said that beyond the major issues – education and affordable housing, for example – an elected official must take care of, “the everyday things, the sewer that needs to be cleaned, garbage that needs to be picked up.” Becoming an Activist Razvi spoke of his evolution from business owner to community activist, a process that began, he said, in the wake of 9/11. “All these individuals started coming to my business, because they needed help,” he said. “There was no social service agency near my community. That was what forced me to open up my organization, COPO, the Council of People’s Organizations. The first day I opened the doors, over 300 people seeking ESL classes.” The organization grew, Razvi added, as more needs were discovered. “People came to me about their kids’ education,” he said. “They couldn’t help with the homework, so I opened an after school program. I’m a person of action.” Schiffman depicted himself as a life-long Brooklynite, who became a social worker 30 years ago. Among the issues with which he has concerned himself, Schiffman said, are the health issues facing the community, from diabetes to asthma to AIDS, most recently working as government and community relations director for Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. In addition, Schiffman told the crowd, “I’ve been involved around the issue of domestic violence.” He has also, he said, worked in the arena of youth services. Regarding development, he told his listeners, “We need to have affordable housing, and we need the area to be zoned properly. My background is as a community organizer. I have brought people together and I will continue to bring people together.” In the Trenches Sharpe positioned himself as a long-time community activist, with volunteer positions in numerous organizations, including, most recently, Community Board 17 where he currently serves as chairperson of the Parks Committee. “I haven’t worked for any elected officials,” Sharpe told the crowd. “But, I have worked for the people.” He said that he was, “Willing to work closely with every group to resolve issues” including unemployment, access to health care and a host of educational concerns. He also said, because of his ties to current elected officials, “I will be hitting the ground at City Hall running.” Toney, once the ambassador to the U.N. from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, pitched his candidacy around his roots in the community and his understanding of the issues faced by immigrants. Toney noted that he and his family had built a successful life in Flatbush, and stressed that his work at the U.N., “Gave me an opportunity to work with 156 nations, to bring them together. That’s what I would bring to this race. I love this community and I will fight for it.” Tulloch, formerly the treasurer and Land Use Committee chairperson for CB 17, reminded his listeners of his years of community service. He said a key to success as the area’s councilmember was being able, “To bring resources into the district,” and he said he had been endorsed by Assemblymember Rhoda Jacobs, because she, “Recognized someone who will work tirelessly for the community.” Tulloch particularly singled out the issue of down-zoning, which he said was “resonating” across the district as older homes are torn down to make way for large, boxy multi-family structures. As Land Use chair for CB 17, he reminded his listeners, he had shaped a proposal for down-zoning parts of East Flatbush, making him, “The only candidate who can actually say I’ve done something in the 40th C.D.” The election will be held on February 20th.
