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Meet The Trump-Loving '1st White Rapper' Who Wants To Be NYC's Night Mayor

By Gwynne Hogan | September 20, 2017 4:01pm
 Matthew Demar, who raps under the name
Matthew Demar, who raps under the name "Political Panic," in his 2016 YouTube video "Make America Great Again."
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BROOKLYN — Meet Matthew Demar, the Trump-boosting, self-proclaimed "first white rapper" who says his decades of club and hospitality industry experience make him most qualified to be the city's Night Mayor. 

He announced his interest in the job in July on YouTube.

 

"It's a guy that's involved in the entertainment business, the hotel business, the restaurant business, the arts. I mean, I was born to do this," Demar said, describing the position. "Plus, dealing with government. And guess what? I'm probably the only guy out there that has all that experience.

"I'm so excited about this job, vote for me!"

The job is not an elected position and will be selected by the mayor's office. The city didn't immediately confirm if Demar had applied for the job.

No stranger to YouTube, Demar rebranded himself during the 2016 presidential election campaign from the rap name he used in the 1990's, "Kid Panic," to "Political Panic," drumming up support for presidential hopeful Donald Trump with hits like "Make America Great Again" and "Drain the Swamp." 

Beyond Demar, a flood of applicants are vying for title of night mayor, one of the city's hippest, cushiest job openings.

About 100 applicants have sent in resumes and cover letters to the office of Councilman Rafael Espinal, who drafted the legislation to create the new job, and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, which is in charge of hiring for the post, their offices said.

"Resumes keep coming in every day," Espinal said. "It's the coolest job title in the city."

The new position, officially created Tuesday night by Mayor Bill de Blasio at Bushwick's trendy House of Yes, will serve as an ambassador to bars, restaurants and venues across the city and will earn a salary of up to $130,000 a year, according to the job posting.

The Night Mayor will serve as an intermediary between city agencies, law enforcement, elected officials, the nightlife industry and community residents; will help with businesses permitting and licensing; and will help craft policies to support nightlife in the city, according to the job listing.

Candidates must have experience working in government, working in the small business community, working with community boards, managerial skills, according to listing on the city's job portal.

Gerard McNamee, the former director of operations at Webster Hall, is also vying for the post, the Daily News reported. He couldn't be reached for further comment immediately. 

Ray Martin, a real estate broker with Williamsburg-based LeBlanc Organization, is also vying for the position, according Espinal's office. He didn't return request for comment immediately.

The city is also hiring a Deputy Director of Nightlife who can earn up to $75,000. A board of 12 advisors made up of industry and community representatives will be appointed by the mayor and the city council to volunteer posts.

You can apply for the Night Mayor job or the deputy assistant position online through the city's job portal by searching "nightlife."