By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Don't mistake this Harlem congressional candidate for a carpetbagger — that would be his cousin and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand rival, Harold Ford Jr.
Vincent Morgan, a challenger this year to Congressman Charlie Rangel in the 15th district, has lived in Harlem for a decade — that's more than three times as long as his cuz has been in the city (and almost ten times as long as Ford has been an official resident).
And while Morgan is a banker like Ford, he says he's a "community banker," the kind that focuses more on strategic partnerships with non-profits than on a fat bottom line.
In Morgan's estimation, his connection with Harlem and his work in the city is more than sufficient to take on the esteemed and embattled Congressman Rangel.
"I think Mr. Rangel is not in step with what the needs of the district are," Morgan said of his challenge to the Harlem political icon. "He's a good man, he's had a good run, but he's come to the end of his story as an elected official."
Morgan, who served as Rangel's campaign director in 2002 before he moved into banking, said the congressman had become a figurehead who is good at talking about problems like affordable housing, education access and unemployment, but has failed at implementing solutions to these problems.
His cousin Ford, however, is of a different mind — he's already endorsed Rangel for re-election.
Morgan said that despite the fact that "he's supporting my competition," he and his cousin have a very cordial relationship.
Morgan did not meet his father — Ford's uncle — Tennessee State Sen. John Ford, until he was 19, and he said he could count the number of times he had met Cousin Harold Ford Jr. on his two hands. But he said he was proud of his blood connection to the Fords.
As for an endorsement in the senate race, Morgan called Gillibrand "a very capable woman" and said he was reserving judgement until his cousin — and any other challengers — had officially declared their candidacy.
