City Council District 11 – Democratic Primary 2013

 

 

 Clifford Stanton  – Dem

 

Clifford Stanton has a long record of service within District 11. Aside from his work as the President of United Snacks Inc., Stanton has championed community initiatives by working to limit restrictions on street vendors through Big Apple Food vendors, and starting a volunteer car service for senior citizens within the district. According to Stanton, his community desperately needs a change in leadership because its current politicians are under-serving their constituents. If elected, he will push for education reform and increased constituent services. On City Council reform issues, Stanton has pledged to implement participatory budgeting and push for merit-based selection of the speaker. He also prioritizes reforming community board appointments in order to bolster their independence. Stanton is also willing to act as a leading independent voice in the Council, pushing for these reforms while clearly understanding the role he can play in the Council. Citizens Union is impressed with Stanton’s ability to follow through on policy goals and his passion for reform. Therefore we prefer Clifford Stanton’s candidacy in the District 11 Democratic primary.

 

 

Andrew Cohen – Dem, WFP
Candidate Questionnaire
Age: 43
Occupation: Attorney, Self-employed; Adjunct Professor, CUNY John Jay College
Education: SUNY New Paltz (degree not reported), Yeshiva University (JD)

 

Andrew Cohen is an attorney and adjunct professor with a history of activism in community boards. Cohen’s roots in the Bronx go back to his eight-year service as Court Attorney to a Bronx Supreme Court Justice. Since then, he has served as chair of the Youth Committee and of the Aging Committee for Bronx Community Board 8. If elected, Cohen promises to make his constituents his number one priority by serving as a full-time Councilmember. Within his district, Cohen hopes to act as an advocate for students and parents to the Department of Education. Regarding reform, he is generally supportive of Citizens Union’s platform, but with some exceptions including opposition to non-partisan elections. He supports more equitable and needs-based distribution of discretionary funding, and the implementation of participatory budgeting. While Cohen stated that he himself would not take a lulu, he seemed unwilling to oppose lulus outright. Overall Cohen lacked the willingness to act as a leader on reform issues which his opponent brings to the table.