Above: Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, right with Vice-President Kamala Harris. Below, former Mayor and City Council President Andre Wallace
By Dan Murphy
It is rare for a former Mayor to challenge an incumbent Mayor, and unheard of for a third former Mayor to join the fray. That is what has happened in the City of Mt. Vernon, with incumbent Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard seeking reelection.
She is being challenged by former City Council President and interim Mayor Andre Wallace. Both Patterson-Howard and Wallace obtained enough signatures to get on the ballot and will faceoff in a Democratic Primary June 27.
A third former Mayor of Mt. Vernon, Richard Thomas, attempted to get on the ballot but his petitions were deemed invalid. Thomas will attempt to run as a write in.
Mayor Paterson-Howard has the endorsement of the Mt. Vernon Democratic Committee, but her four years as Mayor have seen the city trying to overcome the same challenges it faced under Mayor Thomas and Mayor Wallace, including crime, taxes and quality of life issues.
Four years ago, Patterson-Howard ran as the new alternative. Now she runs as the incumbent. Under her watch, Mt. Vernon was able to open Memorial Field, with the help of Westchester County government.
This election, Andre Wallace’s campaign for Mayor is running for change, and with the support of residents who want to Save Mount Vernon.
Patterson-Howard’s campiagn and supporters were able to remove Thomas from the ballot, but Wallace’s signatures were valid. “I believe that we need new ideas and new leadership to combat the crime and rising taxes that plague our city. As your mayor, I will have the courage to stand up and present bold solutions to these challenges. It’s time to send a clear message that the people of Mount Vernon deserve better,” said Wallace.
The winner of the democratic primary on June 27 will be the next Mayor after the November election, barring an extrordinary circumstance, with registered democrats making up 85% of the city’s voters.
