Your District Leaders: Pro Bono but Powerful
Posted on 25. Aug, 2010 by Marcos Salazar in All Politics is Local
Alanike Alabi
District Leader is the person you go to when you need snow and abandoned cars removed, abandoned buildings boarded up, trees pruned and potholes repaired. While an unpaid elected position that only political insiders typically care about, District Leader is an extremely important local office that performs a valuable set of duties on behalf of the constituents on the Hill.
In Kings County (Brooklyn) each assembly district elects four district leaders (two for each party, one male and one female) to a two-year term. Each District Leader carries out the same responsibilities, which include assisting in community organizing, advocacy, voter registration, petition drives and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts on the local level. The District Leader designates candidates for judgeships, Commissioners of the Board of Elections and other high positions within the local government as well as appoints election-day poll and absentee ballot workers. They also act as community liaisons and serve as voices within political parties and set the policies on how they will function.
Walter Mosley
I spoke with Olanike “Ola” Alabi and Walter Mosley, the District Leaders on the Hill in our Assembly District (57th A. D.), about how they became District Leaders and what they have to better the lives of residents on the Hill.
What made you want to become District Leader?
Olanike Alabi: I became a District Leader because I wanted to have a positive impact on others through public service, more specifically, electoral politics.
Walter Mosley: I had serious reservations about the Committeeperson serving the district at the time, and given the upcoming 2008 presidential election, I was not certain his views and activities accurately reflected the aspirations and desires of the men, women and children within the 57th A.D. Politics as usual was not an option at the time given the magnitude of the national election and subsequent elections.
How can a District Leader make a difference in our community?
Olanike Alabi: A District Leader can make a difference in our community by serving as an innovative and effective community organizer, hosting community forums, appointing capable and efficient poll workers, and working with our legislators to address constituent complaints.
Walter Mosley: For one, he or she can help with increasing the general awareness of upcoming local, borough, citywide, statewide and national campaigns and upcoming elections and explaining to them their importance. Likewise, an effective and independent district leader usually has a very active political club. Not only does the political club promote civic involvement, it also allows for the district leader to base his or her activities from the memberships own sentiments.
Likewise, a truly effective District Leader will ensure to have all county committee seats filled within his or her district, and have poll sites filled by members of the district.
What are some of your accomplishments as District Leader?
Olanike Alabi: I established an on-line community newsletter where community residents, elected officials, labor leaders, and clergy members receive bi-weekly news about events I may sponsor or that are being held in the 57th A.D. and beyond along with available resources. To date, there are over 500 individuals who receive the newsletter. I have been a cosponsor of forums on a wide-variety of issues, served as the coordinator of Women for (the election) of John Liu for New York City Comptroller, served as the Campaign Manager for Reginald Boddie, a lawyer who was recently elected to the Civil Court, sponsored a canned food drive to benefit the emergency food pantry at the Child Development Support Corporation (CDSC), which provided groceries for the Thanksgiving holiday to over 250 families, partnered with the Humble School of Martial Arts to provide Thanksgiving dinners to the less fortunate in our community, received a Healthcare Visionary Award from State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, and have assisted in resolving a wide variety of constituent complaints (i.e. traffic and transportation, postal services, crime and safety, etc.). I have also located sponsors for the Clinton Hill Chapter of the AARP to attend an Elder Empowerment Conference and cosponsored a community forum with them on the “Role of the Surrogate Court”.
Walter Mosley: Since I have been District Leader, I have increased the districts county committee involvement significantly; and since one can only appoint county committee members at the county convention every two years, I anticipate 100% participation of county committee members for the 57th Assembly District by 2010.
In addition, we shall have for the first time 100% participation of poll workers for the 57th A.D. come from central Brooklyn by 2010. We have started a positive trend with the kickoff of citywide and statewide candidate forums and debates. More clubs are now having such events, which make the city and districts throughout Brooklyn that much more informed.
As promised during my campaign, I’ve met with every elected official whose district overlaps the 57th A.D. We are also kicking off a construction job-training seminar for residents within public housing within the district.
Why is it important for people in the area to get involved in local politics?
Olanike Alabi: It’s important for people in the area to get involved politically for the purpose of improving the quality of life in their communities and for access to government.
Walter Mosley: All politics is truly local, and I’m made aware of this notion every single day I serve as the NYS Committeeman/District Leader within the 57th A.D. As such, regardless of one’s differences on a particular issue, you must be able to focus and move on matters and issues where you can make a change and impact on the lives of your constituents. Hence, if constituents are not informed of their elected officials’ activities, then the level of accountability is shaken and the trust one tries to build is jeopardized.
What are some future plans you have as District Leader?
Olanike Alabi: Some of my future plans as a District Leader include assisting in acquainting voters in our district with the new voting machines, continue to host community forums on issues that are relative to community residents, healthcare events, forging even greater relationships with faith-based institutions and community organizations, and supporting qualified and diverse men and women for public offices and judgeships.
Walter Mosley: We have an upcoming Attorney General debate, which will be co-sponsored by several other Democratic political clubs along with CUNY School of public policy at Medgar Evers College. We plan to be extremely active with the campaigns of several judges and statewide campaigns. In addition, we will be planning to expand our club to include a new Young Democrats chapter and get more young people involved within the process.
I also plan to work extensively with Medgar Evers College School of Public Policy both from a legislative and from the academic side. We have already started working with them on legislation dealing with recently proposed election/labor law legislation and will be assisting them on gerrymandering matters from a public policy perspective.
