Latest news with #non-Democrats
New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Drop out of the mayor's race NOW, Andrew Cuomo!
Andrew Cuomo lost big Tuesday night, but may still do New York City the huge disservice of staying on the November ballot as an independent — and so increase the chances that Zohran Mamdani becomes the next mayor. He can still legally drop out today, Friday June 27; otherwise, even if he doesn't campaign at all, he'll still draw some votes that should go to a non-Mamdani candidate who can win. Staying in would be the height of egotistical arrogance, but this is Andrew Cuomo we're talking about: As long as it serves his bitter, twisted and vengeful needs, he probably doesn't care about the consequences for the people of this city. Of course, that attitude explains his historic collapse despite a huge lead in the polls just weeks ago, and a ginormous $25 million in donations for 'independent' pro-Cuomo spending: Democratic voters are sick of him. And the same will prove true of non-Democrats if he persists: Whatever lead there might seem to be there in polling now (especially in polls pushed by consultants who'd profit if he stays in) is mere name recognition. Why would moderates and conservatives rally behind him? They know Cuomo helped inflict 'criminal justice reform' on New York, feeding crime and disorder in the city; he made it harder to get mentally ill homeless into treatment; he gave us the botched legalization of pot, soaring electric bills, tighter rent laws that slam small landlords, the subway Summer of Hell and 'congestion' tolls — not to mention his literally deadly 'leadership' during COVID. Yet he's plainly still in denial: 'I'm looking at the numbers from last night. I want to get an idea of what the general election looks like and what landscape looks like, and what the issues are, and then make the decision,' he arrogantly told The Post on Wednesday. Huh? After his tired run in the primary, Cuomo is a dead man walking even in the eyes his big-money donors, who are looking to shift their support to Mayor Eric Adams or some late-entry independent. By staying on the ballot in what's then at least a four-man race, Andrew Cuomo only makes it easier for Mamdani to sneak to victory with as little as 30% of the vote — meaning he needs only his hard-left base, plus those who'll always vote for the Democratic line and a handful more New Yorkers he can charm into his camp. Andrew Cuomo made New York less affordable, less safe and less livable: He's already proved he's the perfect foil for Mamdani. Yet — in some faint hope of somehow winning redemption and a platform he imagines could let him seek the White House — Cuomo stands poised to to help elect a democratic socialist who'd make all the city's problems even worse. For a few more hours, he can still serve the people of New York by setting aside his ego and removing his name from the November ballot. He has until 5 pm today to inform the city Board of Elections. The clock's ticking, Andrew: Let your final move in politics be doing the right thing.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrats crowd into race for open Wichita City Council seat. Who's running?
Three seats on the Wichita City Council are up for reelection this year — all currently held by Democrats. But only one will have a primary election in August. That race is packed with some of the city's best-known Democratic candidates: a former county party chairman, a civil rights advocate, a political consultant, a former Wichita State University community liaison and a neighborhood association president who raised the alarm about a chemical spill in the district. No non-Democrats filed to run in the heavily blue-leaning district. The crowded District 1 race will decide who replaces council member Brandon Johnson, who faces term limits after eight years on the council. City council races are nonpartisan, meaning parties do not hold primaries or caucuses and party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. Members are elected for four-year terms by district. Council member pay was recently raised to $57,985.20 a year. A primary election is held in Wichita when four or more candidates run for a seat District 1 includes the core of Wichita, with parts of downtown, and generally stretches north to city limits and east to Rock Road. Five candidates have filed to run for the open seat, triggering a primary election for Aug. 5. The top two candidates will move forward to the general election on Nov. 4. Position: Insurance broker, Northeast Millair Neighborhood Association president Previously: Daycare provider, real estate agent Education: Graduated from Wichita West High at age 16, studied history and business at Friends University Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: Bennett lists an ownership interest in Trinity Insurance and Financial Services and reported that she's the CEO of ICT Urban Lift, Inc., president of the Northeast Millair Neighborhood Association and member of the executive board of the Wichita Independent Neighborhood Association. Bennett, 61, has received news coverage since she helped bring attention to a chemical spill by a railroad company in northeast Wichita. She has lobbied for cancer screening. She has also spoken out against building a gas station in her district and placing a temporary homeless shelter in District 1 without gathering community feedback. She said she has collaborated with local, state and federal officials to address issues facing District 1 and aided the Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas in securing a nearly $500,000 brownfield job training grant. Her top priorities are affordable housing, tenant protections, environmental justice, public health, workforce development and 'restoring trust through accountable and community-driven leadership,' she said. 'District 1 is rich with potential,' she said. 'Together, we can build a cleaner, safer, more prosperous future block, family by family.' Carrington is a 66-year-old former community liaison between Wichita State University and the Fairmount neighborhood in the aftermath of a tragic murder at Fairmount Park in 2014. He is a registered Democrat. He did not respond to attempts to reach him. The Eagle will update with more information as it becomes available. Position: Community engagement specialist Previously: Retired from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 Education: Southeast High, Southwestern College, and Wichita State University mini-MPA Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: DeShazer lists the Greater Wichita YMCA as an employer in the past 12 months and lists memberships on several organizations or businesses: Wichita Branch NAACP Youth executive board, H.O.P.E. Inc executive board, Wichita Racial Profiling Advisory Board, Sedgwick County Citizens Community Council, District 1 Advisory Board and Kansas 4-H State Program Development Committee. This is DeShazer's first run for elected office – but she's not unfamiliar with government work and setting budgets. DeShazer, 59, retired in 2019 from Sedgwick County Fire District 1, where she was in charge of its $20 million budget. 'I helped create, manage, the budget throughout the years. That was my baby,' DeShazer said. 'Twenty years worth of experience with government that I walk through the door with.' A lifelong resident of District 1, DeShazer said she'll focus on affordable housing and economic development in the district if elected. 'District 1 is huge, it's amazing,' she said, 'and so we need to strategically put things where people can get to them. You know, we always say 'meet people where they are,' and so I think we need to do that better.' Position: Political consultant, business owner Previously: President of the Wichita Board of Park Commissioners Education: University of Kansas, BS in Strategic Communications and BA in Communication Studies Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: Pumpelly lists ownership in Inclusion, LLC, a consulting firm. He is also a director of Proud of Wichita, Inc.: The LGBT Chamber and The Institute for Inclusive Business. Pumpelly, 41, has helped manage multiple successful city campaigns in the past, including former Mayor Brandon Whipple's 2019 victory over incumbent Jeff Longwell. He has been an outspoken critic of Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, especially after she did not sign a proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility that was submitted by Proud of Wichita, an organization founded by Pumpelly. 'Over the last ten years, Wichita invested millions of dollars into strategic plans to compete with our peer cities,' Pumpelly said in a news release. 'The last two years, however, we saw that momentum slam to a halt. I'm running for District 1 because my experience will help get us back on the right track and moving forward again.' He said his platform includes building additional housing units, east bank riverfront development downtown and acting on a 'backlog of existing City recommendations' including police reform recommendations from Jensen Hughes. Pumpelly said he's working to form a campaign committee. Position: Chief of staff at Lead for America Previously: Sedgwick County Democratic Party chairman, Director of multicultural engagement and campus life at Newman University, Kansas Leadership Center Education: Wichita State University, doctoral candidate in education leadership Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: Shepard lists places of employment in the past year as Lead for America and Kansas Leadership Center. He also reported board membership for Humankind Ministries, The Kansas African American Museum and Phillips Fundamental Learning Center. Shepard, 32, said he has learned a lot since running for school board in 2019 and is ready to hear from District 1 residents as he campaigns. 'I'm trying to understand the non-sexy things. That's what's different this time, is that I'm getting into the weeds,' Shepard said. 'I think I've matured, and I think that I've been exposed to different people in different environments that have allowed me to grow in my leadership.' Although the city should focus on bringing in more affordable and transitional housing, as well as economic growth, he said, it needs to also focus on root causes of homelessness. 'I grew up homeless. ... I know what it is like when you have the ability to find shelter in your own community, where wraparound services are also available,' he said. 'I know that you can bring shelter all day long, but if you're not addressing the root causes, then you're not solving the issue.' The other two districts will not hold primary elections because fewer than four candidates filed to run. Voters in those council districts will choose their council member during the general election on Nov. 5. District 3 encompasses much of south Wichita, mainly south of Kellogg between Seneca and I-35. Two candidates have filed for the seat, including current city council member Mike Hoheisel and first-time candidate Genevieve Howerton. Both names are familiar to those who follow Kansas politics as both have relatives in the Statehouse. Hoheisel's brother, Nick Hoheisel, is the Republican House Majority Whip, while Howerton's mother, Cyndi Howerton, is a Republican representative who chairs the Child Welfare and Foster Care committee. Position: Current District 3 City Council member Previously: Small business owner/handyman Education: West High, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: Hoheisel lists his city of Wichita employment and his wife's employment at Walgreens on his campaign filings. Hoheisel, 42, said he'd like to see some initiatives he started in his first term cross the finish line if re-elected to his current seat. Those initiatives address some issues for the south Wichita district including homelessness, mental health, addiction and safety. 'We've done a lot of good things over the past four years, but there's still a lot of work that still needs to be done,' he said. 'We didn't get to the position where we are in my district overnight, and the problems aren't going to be solved overnight, but I want to make sure that we're continuing to move in the right direction.' During his current tenure, Hoheisel has worked on some major projects for his district in south Wichita, including the city's biological nutrient removal project, which is expected to reduce sewage odors in the area. 'I grew up on South Broadway, and I would say, 'One day we'd wake up and smell the bread plant nearby, and the next day we'd wake up and smell the result of the bread plant.'' Howerton, 23, filed Monday, June 2, to challenge Hoheisel for his seat. She had not yet responded to a request for comment. Her campaign treasurer is her mother, Rep. Cyndi Howerton, with whom she shares an address in south Wichita. The first-time candidate is a registered Republican. Her statement of substantial interests filing shows she has received payment or been employed by Canvass America, a political canvassing firm, and Heritage 1st Realty, in the past year. It also lists her husband, Philip Pettit, as the grassroots engagement director for Americans for Prosperity. The Eagle will update with more information as it becomes available. District 6 covers parts of central and northwest Wichita generally located between I-135 and I-235 with parts of downtown, Delano and up to Valley Center. Position: Wichita City Council member Previously: Small-business owner, co-founder of Paxton's Blessing Boxes Education: Wichita North High School, attended University of Kansas Party registration: Democrat Substantial interests: Ballard lists her employment with the city and as a founder of Paxton's Blessing Box. Ballard, 43, was sworn into office in 2022 after defeating incumbent Cindy Claycomb. She is often an outspoken opponent of Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. The two have clashed over a Transgender Day of Visibility Proclamation, which Ballard presented in Wu's stead; downtown Portland Loo restrooms, which Ballard championed but Wu opposed; budget priorities; and the use of city parks. She said she would use the next four years to continue to advocate for the issues that are important to her district and to complete projects the city has started since she took office, including the Multi-Agency Center, or MAC, that serves the homeless. 'Our city is finally set to address long-time problems in a meaningful way,' Ballard said. 'But we can't take our foot off the gas now. My goal would be to see the MAC transform into our vision for a one-stop shop with transitional housing units on site, continue making City Hall more customer service friendly, and complete a Family Justice Center to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence.' Position: Process assurance trainer at Vestas Previously: Co-founded STOP Cards Initiative for Hope Street Youth Development Education: WSU Tech associate's degree in supply chain management and logistics, Bishop Carroll High School Party registration: Unaffiliated Substantial interests: None filed. Shabazz, a 40-year-old military widow and mother of two, oversees staff development and leads process improvements for a global wind energy company. She said she attends Holy Savior Catholic Church. Shabazz said she would like to prioritize economic revitalization along the Broadway corridor. Her campaign focuses on three issues: affordable housing, access to mental health care and addressing the root causes and investing in the long-term support services of homelessness. 'We can't criminalize poverty,' Shabazz said. 'We need permanent, humane solutions — housing, mental health care, job pathways — not just temporary shelters.' 'I'm running because I believe District 6 deserves a leader who listens, leads with integrity, and fights for every neighbor,' Shabazz said in a news release. 'This is my home. I'm raising my daughters here. I've seen the beauty and the challenges of our community, and I'm ready to be a voice for the people.' Anderson did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. His campaign filings show he will be his own treasurer and he works in inventory for Ebay Sales. He is a registered Republican. The Eagle will update with more information as it becomes available.
