Dear Editor,
The candidate for New York Mayor in the Democratic Party endorsed by Guyanese groups in Queens, Eric Adams, has won the party’s nomination to contest the general election in Novem-ber, according to voting counts from the New York City’s Board Elections. Adams, an African-American who is President of the Borough of Brooklyn, will officially be announced as the party’s nominee against the Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in November’s Mayoral elections, unless there is any court challenge. New York City is a largely Democratic stronghold (with seven times more Democrats than Republicans) and Adams is expected to easily prevail against Sliwa. Adams visited Richmond Hill several times during the election campaign, including mandirs and Gurudwara. He was endorsed by several Guyanese groups and prominent community leaders and activists; several fundraisers were held in Queens for Adams supported by Guyanese and other West Indians.
The election was held on June 22 with in person ballots counted that same evening. Absentee and mail-in ballot count results were announced on July 6. This year, the voting included ranked choices for office – meaning a voter can vote for multiple candidates ranking them up to a fifth choice if so desired. Adams got the highest number of first ranked preference accounting for 33% of the in person votes cast. Adams held a narrow lead over Kathryn Garcia 51% to 49%. After counting of some 130K absentee ballots, Adams narrowly led Garcia by some 8,000 votes, winning 50.5% to 49.5%. Adams put together a coalition of varied ethnic groups including Indo-Guyanese, Black West Indians, South Asians, and Hispanics, among others, as well as working class activists. He triumphed over a large Democratic field of eleven candidates. He is considered a moderate Democrat.
Adams spoke frequently of his dual identity as a 22-year police veteran and a Black man. He retired from the police force in 2006 and ran for NY Senate serving several terms. He gave up his Senate seat to run for Brooklyn President in 2013. He is term limited this year as is Mayor Bill DiBlasio whose office Adams seeks. Adams co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care that combated racial profiling of minorities. Adams is a vegan who credits a plant-based diet with reversing his diabetes. He has a 25-year-old son with a former girlfriend. Adams is the favorite in the November general election against Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
