Lots of barriers were broken down this past Tuesday as an increasingly diverse city elected some notable firsts. The WFP is proud to have played a small part:
- John Liu, the WFP’s Comptroller candidate, took a big step forward in his drive to become the first Asian American elected citywide by making it into Sept. 29’s runoff election (along with David Yassky).
- Debi Rose, a WFP-backed candidate for City Council, will very likely become the first African American elected official from Staten Island this November after defeating incumbent Kenny Mitchell in Tuesday’s primary election.
- Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer, both endorsed by the WFP, are set to become the first (and second) openly gay elected officials in Queens.
- The WFP couldn’t be everywhere: Margaret Chin will become the first Asian American elected in Manhattan after defeating Alan Gerson in the 1st Council District, and Kevin Kim is poised to become city’s first Korean American pol after winning the primary for Tony Avella’s old seat (the WFP made no endorsement in either race).
Put it all together and, as the Times notes this morning, the New York City Council is poised to become majority minority for the first time in the city’s history:
As of now, with one vacancy, the Council has 24 black, Hispanic and Asian members. Depending on how many of the other Democratic candidates elected Tuesday are victorious in the Nov. 3 general election, that number could climb as high as 28.
… Dick Dadey, the executive director of Citizens Union, a government watchdog group, said that having a City Council that better mirrors the people it serves could influence how decisions are made. “It is possible that it will be more progressive and challenging to the status quo,” Mr. Dadey said, adding that it could “change the power dynamics within the body itself.”
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