By Dan Murphy
Two more announcements for elected office in Yonkerssince our last issue. City Council Minority Leader Mike Breen kicked off his campaign for reelection in the 5th council district, and Democrat Shatika Parker announced her campaign for City Council in the First District.
Minority Leader Mike Breen announced his candidacy for re-election on February 2nd at an event attended by many supporters, friends and family. Breen explained that he is honored to represent the 5th Council District and still has the fire in the belly to continue to serve. Breen said, “Yonkers is moving forward and I’d like to continue to be a part of that progress. Working with my Council colleagues, and Mayor Mike Spano, the City of Yonkers is undoubtedly moving in the right direction.”
Councilman Breen, one of only two republican Councilmembers, has consistently worked across party lines in order to deliver for the 5th District and Yonkers. Breen stated, “I believe Yonkers is the blueprint for bipartisanship. If Republicans and Democrats in Yonkers can work together there is no reason that those in Washington and Albany couldn’t do the same thing”.It is expected that Councilman Breen will receive his party’s endorsement at the convention in the coming weeks.
Yonkers Native, Democrat and Community Advocate Shatika Parker has officially launches her campaign For Yonkers City Council in the 1st District. A Yonkers native, Parker, 31, is born and raised in Yonkers and a graduate of the Yonkers Public Schools, and is proud to be raising her daughter in her city.
Unlike other candidates, Parker brings a unique perspective developed from a lens of lived, educational, and career experience. She is no stranger to the issues of the 1st District, namely the housing crisis – having lived in a vast array of housing this city has to offer, including but not limited to, Municipal Housing, Section 8,
Not only the first person in her family to graduate high school, Parker earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from SUNY Albany. She’s also had the opportunity to help the 1st District through her nonprofit organization, Project Inspire Yonkers, as well as through her previous 6-year tenure as Legislative Aide to County Legislator Christopher Johnson, where she fought for Yonkers residents and their concerns.
As a City Council Member, Parker intends to push back against the status quo, using her deep roots, community engagement, education, and career experience to drive change for better housing, education, and employment opportunities for the people of the 1st District, who have been often underserved by current city government.
“I am a product of the best and the worst of this city” said Parker, “and I vow to fight for funding and legislation that will improve the quality of life for residents in the 1st District. This race is not about me, it’s about finally having a community voice on the City Council and with community support and action, we will have just that.”
Petitions for all offices will begin on February 28th.
