Dozens of Candidates Seek Bronx Council Seats

In seven out of nine City Council districts in the Bronx, the race is on – big time.

Thirty-seven candidates are competing. Three seats are wide open and four incumbents are facing challengers. Three veteran incumbents—Oliver Koppell in District 11, Joel Rivera in District 15 and Helen D. Foster in District 16—can’t run again due to term limits. Respectively, four, seven and 10 candidates, are vying to replace each.

The campaigns include leaders of religious organizations, political circles, immigrant communities and nonprofit groups. Collectively, the four candidates vying for District 11, which covers the affluent community of Riverdale, have raised the most, totaling close to a quarter of the $1 million raised in the six other Bronx elections.

All but two of the candidates are running as Democrats.

The campaign with six candidates in District 15 to replace Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera, the son of Assemblyman Jose Rivera, appears to be the closest watched. But District 16 features 10 candidates, and four are native Africans.

James Vacca, an east Bronx Council member, has raised $287,398, the most of all candidates by far even though he isn’t currently facing any challengers. His 24-year-old protégé Ritchie Torres, who is running in District 15, is the youngest candidate citywide.

In District 8 (most of which is in Manhattan), seven candidates are taking on Melissa Mark-Viverito, who hopes to succeed her supporter, Christine Quinn, as Council speaker if she becomes mayor.

The primary election will be held on Sept 10. To determine which Council district you live in and where you must vote, click here. For more information on candidate backgrounds and other election issues, visit the new voters’ guide Decide NYC, and for details on how to vote, visit the site of the Board of Elections.

Here’s a look at who’s running where:

District 8
El Barrio/East Harlem, Manhattan Valley, Mott Haven

Incumbent: Melissa Mark-Viverito (being challenged)

Candidates:
Sean Gardner
Party: Democrat
Occupations: Senior Pastor and CEO at Missionary Baptist Church
Contributions to date: $6,140

Ralina Cardona
Party: Democrat
Occupation: NYS Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens
Contributions to date: $14,025

Gwen Goodwin
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Community activist
Contributions to date: $1,730

Angel Guerrero
Party: Democrat
Occupations: Founder and President of Young Americans for a Better America (YABA), Founder and CEO of Hart & Armor Group
Contributions to date: $11,792

Tamika Humphreys
Party: Democrat
Occupations: President of East Harlem Insurance Brokerage, Owner of JuicePlus
Contributions to date: $2,076

Melissa Mark-Viverito
Parties: Democrat, Working Families
Occupation: City Council Member for District 8
Contributions to date: $108,921

Angel Molina
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Community activist
Contributions to date: $6,915

Ed Santos
Party: Democrat
Occupations: Budget Analyst at Neuberger Berman, Treasurer of Community Board 11
Contributions to date: $17,819

District 11
Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Woodlawn, Norwood, parts of Bedford Park, Wakefield, Bronx Park East

Incumbent: Oliver Koppell (term limited)

Candidates:
Andrew Cohen
Party: Democrat
Occupations: Attorney, Professor for John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Contributions to date: $91,927

Ari Hoffnung
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Deputy Comptroller for Budget and Public Affairs
Contributions to date: $79,066

Cheryl Keeling
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Owner of Capital Management Group
Contributions to date: $2,315

Clifford Stanton
Party: Democrat
Occupation: President for United Snacks Inc.
Contributions to date: $57,361

District 12
Baychester, Eastchester, Edenwald, Olinville, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Woodlawn

Incumbent : Andy King (being challenged)

Candidates:
Andy King
Party: Democrat
Occupation: City Council Member District 12
Contributions to date: $18,315

Pamela Johnson
Party: Democrat
Occupations: Executive Director of Urban Neighborhood and the Eastchester Heights Community Center
Contributions to date: $1,490

Steven Ortiz
Party: Democrat
Occupation: unknown
Contributions to date: $110

Ryan Wright
Party: Democrat
Occupation: unknown
Contributions to date: $1,265

District 13
Pelham Parkway North and South, Pelham Bay, Country Club, City Island, Throggs Neck, Allerton, Morris Park

Incumbent : James Vacca (not challenged)

Candidate:
James Vacca
Party: Democrat
Occupation: City Council Member District 13
Contributions to date: $287,938

District 14
Fordham, Kingsbridge, Morris Heights, West Bronx, University Heights

Incumbent : Fernando Cabrera (not challenged)

Candidate:
Fernando Cabrera
Party: Democrat
Occupation: City Council Member District 14
Contributions to date: $44,051

District 15
Bathgate, Belmont, Crotona, Fordham, East Tremont, Van Nest, West Farms

Incumbent: Joel Rivera (term limited)

Candidates:
Cynthia Thompkins
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Founder and President of the Marion Ave Neighborhood Association
Contributions to date: $6,956

Ritchie Torres
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Housing Director for Council Member Vacca
Contributions to date: $78,946

Kenny Agosto
Party: Democrat
Occupation: District Leader, 80th Assembly District
Contributions to date: $520

Raquel Batista
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Consulting Attorney
Contributions to date: $32,620

Joel Bauza
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Senior Pastor for Calvary Church East 174 St.
Contributions to date: $28,386

Joel R. Rivera
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Vice Chair for Bronx Democratic Committee
Contributions to date: $25,535
(Candidate is unrelated to term-limited incumbent Joel Rivera)

William Rivera
Party: Moderate
Occupation: State Committeeman for 87th Assembly District
Contributions to date: $35,300

District 16
Highbridge, Morrisania, West Bronx, Melrose

Incumbent: Helen D. Foster (term limited)

Candidates:
Walter Newsome
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Liaison at the Office of the Bronx District Attorney
Contributions to date: $1,386

Pedro Alvarez
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Tax preparer for P. Alvarez and Associates
Contributions to date: $25,008

Carlton Berkley
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Co-founder of Brothers and Sisters Who Care
Contributions to date: $5,270

Abiodun Bello
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Tax auditor for NYC Department of Finance
Contributions to date: $6,285

Ahmadou Diallo
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Founding President of Futa Islamic Center
Contributions to date: $5,200

Vanessa Gibson
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Assembly Member, District 77
Contributions to date: $38,740

Daryl Johnson
Party: Democrat
Occupation: President for Morris Avenue Tenants Coalition
Contributions to date: $5,286

Naaimat Muhammed
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Community Outreach Liaison for Council Member Helen Diane Foster
Contributions to date: $29,508

Bola Omotosho
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Chair of Bronx Community Board
Contributions to date: $1,320

Carlos Sierra
Party: Democrat
Occupation: President for Education Council for LULAC
Contributions to date: $23,630

District 17
West Concourse, East Concourse, Concourse Village, Melrose South, Mott Haven North, Mott Haven, Port Morris, Longwood, Hunts Point, Soundview, Clason Point, Harding Park, Bruckner, Crotona Park East

Incumbent: Maria del Carmen Arroyo (being challenged)

Candidates:
Maria del Carmen Arroyo
Party: Democrat
Occupation: City Council Member for District 17
Contributions to date: $55,599

Julio Pabon
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Owner of Latino Sports
Contributions to date: $11,239

District 18
Parkchester, Soundview, Castle Hill, Classon Point, Harding Park

Incumbent: Annabel Palma (being challenged)

Candidates:
Annabel Palma
Party: Democrat
Occupation: City Council Member for District 18
Contributions to date: $45,362

William Moore
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Co-founder of the Black United Leadership of the Bronx
Contributions to date: $5,621

Carl Lundgren
Party: Green
Occupation: Chair of the Bronx County Green Party
Contributions to date: $0