HARLEM — Candidates hoping to represent Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side on the City Council will debate for the first time Wednesday before a special election on Feb.14.
The candidates will face off at a forum hosted by the NYC Equality Coalition, a group of black and Latino LGBTQ groups and community leaders.
The forum will be held at 215 W. 125th St. in the offices of Manhattan Community Board 10 and will focus on LGBTQ issues as well as general community concerns, organizers said.
So far, according to official filings, 12 candidates have emerged to replace Inez Dickens and represent the 9th Council District, which includes parts of the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights and East Harlem.
Candidates expected to attend include:
►Charles Cooper, a former Community Board 9 vice-chairman and businessman
►Marvin Holland, policy director for the Transit Workers Union Local 100
►Mamadou Drame, a community activist
►State Sen. Bill Perkins
►Donald D. Fields, a businessman
►Pierre Gooding, former general counsel for Success Academy
►Troy Outlaw, a former City Council aide
►Dawn Simmons, a teacher and social worker
► Athena Moore, an aide to the Manhattan Borough President
► Larry Scott Blackmon, the former Deputy Commissioner for Community Outreach at the city Parks Department
► Todd R. Stevens (no information publicly available)
► Shanette M. Gray (no information publicly available)
Interested voters can register for the forum by clicking here.
