Louis, Chandler-Waterman in big 45th CD battle
By Nelson A. King
Though she won the
Special Election on May
14 for the 45th Council
District in Brooklyn
by a handsome margin,
Haitian-American Councilwoman,
Farah Louis is
again in a strong fight
to regain the seat in the
Democratic Primary on
June 25.
Louis is once more
challenged by first
runner-up in the Special
Election, Monique
Chandler-Waterman, the
daughter of Jamaican and
Barbadian immigrants.
Some of the other candidates
in the Special
Election, such as lawyer
Jovia Radix and Rickie
Tulloch, have opted not
to contest the primary.
Radix, the daughter of
Barbadian and Grenadian
immigrants, has declined
to endorse Louis or Chandler
Waterman for the
primary; while Jamaicanborn
Tulloch has thrown
his weight behind Chandler
Waterman.
Some of the other
unsuccessful candidates
in the Special Elections
are reportedly contesting
the primary. They are:
Trinidadian-born community
advocate for seniors
in Brooklyn Anthony
Alexis; Xamayla Rose, the
daughter of Jamaican
immigrants and trustee
for the Brooklyn-based
Christopher Rose Community
Empowerment
Campaign, which directs
youth services; and economist
Victor Jordan.
But, from all indications,
the Jun. 25 Democratic
Primary will be
a straight, hard fight
between Louis and Chandler
Waterman.
In an exclusive interview
over the weekend,
Louis, the daughter of
Haitian immigrants, told
Caribbean Life that the
day after her “hard-fought
Special Election victory,”
she went “straight to
work.”
“I’m honored that the
voters of the 45th district
have trusted me to be
a steward of our home,”
Louis said. “After working
in the 45th district office
in various roles over the
last decade, it feels great
to be back at City Hall
in a role that will allow
me to affect change in a
more tangible way than
ever before.
“I am incredibly thankful
Caribbean L 20 ife, June 21–27, 2019 BQ
for the support of all
my endorsers, campaign
staff and volunteers,” she
added. “I am confident
going into the Jun. 25
primary and ask that the
voters allow me to continue
to build what we’ve
already started together.”
Louis described her
platform as “progressive
and community-centered,”
stating that she
wants to “put money back
into the district to invest
in quality health care,
equitable education and
more intuitive housing
resources with the goal
of a 45th that works for
everyone.”
She said her campaign
has secured several key
endorsements in the
month since her victory.
Louis said the highest
executive in the city and
presidential candidate
Mayor Bill de Blasio has
announced his support of
her campaign.
In addition, she said
her colleagues in City
Hall, Speaker Corey
Johnson, Council Members
Helen Rosenthal,
Justin Brannan, Chaim
Deutsch, Kalman Yeger,
Rafael Espinal, Diana
Ayala, Alicka Ampry-
Samuel, Vanessa Gibson,
Robert Cornegy, Jr. and
Keith Powers are among
others supporting her.
Community leaders
who have lent their support
to Louis’ re-election
campaign include Brooklyn
Borough President
Eric Adams, Democratic
Party Leader Frank Seddio,
District Leaders Lori
Maslow, Doug Schneider,
Sue Ann Partnow, David
Schwartz, Lori Knipel
and Ari Kagan.
On the state level,
Louis said her campaign
is endorsed by Assemblymembers
Rodneyse
Bichotte, Helene Weinstein,
Jaime Williams,
Michaelle Solages, Kimberly
Jean-Pierre and
Clyde Vanel, and Senator
James Sanders, Jr.
Additionally, Louis said
her campaign has benefited
from the support
and input of union leaders
and labor organizations.
Her latest endorsement
comes from the
largest health care union
in the nation and her own
former union, 1199SEIU.
Louis is also endorsed
by UFT, PSC-CUNY,
Local 372 DC 37, Teamsters
Local 237, Public
Employees Federation,
PBA, CWA Local 1109,
Supreme Court Officers
Association, RWDSU
Retail, Wholesale &
Department Store Union,
SBA, Local 1407 DC 37,
CWA 1180, Sheet Metal
Workers Local 28, and
Alliance of South Asian
Labor.
She said several community
leaders and
organizations, political
and otherwise, are “eager
to work” with her on “initiatives
that improve the
district for all constituents.”
Endorsers include
Flatbush Jewish Community
Coalition, Brooklyn
Young Democrats, Lambda
Independent Democrats,
Jim Owles Liberal
Democratic Club and Bay
Democrats.
Louis said she relishes
the “opportunity to
engage with the community
on a personal level”,
stating that she makes
Continued on Page 63
Monique Chandler-
Waterman.