Alicia Barksdale
Joyce Johnson
Manuel O. Lantigua
Mark D. Levine
Mark T. Otto
Zead Ramadan
David Sasscer-Burgos
Luis Tejada
Ruben Dario Vargas
Party Enrolled In: Democratic
Current Occupation: U.S. Air Force Retired, USAFR, and NYPD Evidence & Property Specialist.
Previous Occupation(s): Center Manager at the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation.
Education: I graduated from the City College of New York in June 1994 with a B.A. in Political Science, and from the Cornell University Management and Labor Relations Program in June 1999.
Organizational Affiliations: United Democratic Organization
Prior Public Experience: NYC Council Candidate Sept. 2001, 2005 & 2009. U.S. Congress Candidate N.Y. 15th Dist. Sept. 2000, 2004, & 2010.
1. What is the most important issue in Council District 07 you would address if elected?
Providing the best possible public education and increase parent involvement in schools. Also, I will fight bullying by advocating for anti-bullying classes.
2. What other important issues would you address if elected?
Public safety, affordable housing, and jobs are in my top priorities. I will fight for safer public transportation, including installing elevators in train stations. In regards to Stop and Frisk: imagine if bad guys would be able to transport dangerous or illegal items, or evidence of a crime committed, at will, knowing that they would not be stopped by the NYPD. This would be reality without Stop and Frisk. Thus, by existing, this tool prevents crimes, which are not reflected in any crime-prevention statistics. That is why Stop and Frisk must remain in place.
3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?
I am a person of principles and family values. I have been happily married for 23 years to my wife Monika, who works for the NYC Dept. of Education. We have 3 children who were born and raised in Upper Manhattan. Our two daughters attend college in NYC, and our son attends the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. I am proud to have served in the U.S. military and believe I am the only candidate to have done so.
Reprinted as supplied by the candidate. Participating in the NYC Campaign Finance Program.
This Guide lists all candidates who appear to be on the ballot for the primary election based on the latest information obtained from the New York City Board of Elections, even if a candidate did not submit a profile or record a video for the Guide. Profiles and video scripts were submitted to the CFB by the candidates and are reprinted as supplied, except in the case of egregious errors and minor formatting issues, which may be corrected by the CFB. Videos appearing in this Guide were recorded and approved for broadcast by the candidates. All the candidates have affirmed under penalty of perjury that the information in their profiles and videos is true to the best of their knowledge. Website and social media links were supplied by the candidates. The CFB is not responsible for non-working links, although it does correct or remove them to the extent practicable. The CFB removes links that are not campaign-related.
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