Puerto Rican Independent candidate seeks to become first Latino mayor of New York City

A third Boricua from “El Bronx” aims to become New York City mayor.

Adolfo Carrion with his daughter, Raquel, announcing his candidacy.

By Carlos Giron

New York, NY (July 8, 2013) - New York City has been one of the top Hispanic markets in the United States for many decades. The Latino population in “The Big Apple” currently stands at close to 2.5 million, according to the 2012 U.S. Census.

The New York City Hispanic community -as well as the overall city's population- is extremely diverse, and various Latino segments have been growing exponentially. Such is the case for Dominicans, the second largest group, Ecuadoreans, Colombians, and yes, Mexicans -the third largest enclave- who have arrived in significant numbers.  

Still, Puerto Ricans continue to be the largest and most influential Latino community in New York City. When it comes to political power and leadership, the Puerto Rican community stands alone. They are the pioneers and elder statesmen among the broader Latino community.

This has to do, in part, with their long-standing residence in the area.  The Boricua community began to arrive in New York City as early as the mid-19th century, and increased its presence in several waves of migration.

In 1917 the U.S. government granted Puerto Ricans full American citizenship. Then, the advent of air travel in 1950, set the stage for “The Great Migration,” when thousands of Puerto Ricans moved to New York City, with the majority settling in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The Bronx, in particular, has been the main base of Puerto Rican political power, and more broadly, of Latino political influence in New York City. “El Condado de la Salsa,” as it is often called by Latinos, has been fertile ground for political leadership development.

Two Puerto Rican former presidents (chief executives) of the Borough of The Bronx ran for Mayor of New York City. The first was Herman Badillo, a public servant that achieved several milestones for Puerto Ricans. Badillo was the first Boricua to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the Office of Bronx Borough President, and to run for mayor.

The Caguas, Puerto Rico born politician is best known for his work as Deputy Mayor under Mayor Ed Koch, one of the most popular mayors in New York City history. That was as close as he ever got to the Office of Mayor. Mr. Badillo did try. Many times. He sought the Democratic nomination not less than five times (1969, 1973, 1977, 1981 and 1985). He even tried to get the Republican nomination in 2001, all to no avail.

The second Puerto Rican politician to run for New York City Mayor was Fernando “Freddy” Ferrer, one of the longest tenured Presidents of the Bronx. Mr. Ferrer held that office for 14 years (1987 to 2001).

“Freddy” launched a campaign for mayor three times (1997, 2001, and 2005). His third try came very, very close to being a charm. Mr. Ferrer was well positioned and received broad and enthusiastic support by the local and national Democratic establishment. That year, the Cardinal Spellman High School graduate (the same high school attended by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, also of Puerto Rican descent), was endorsed by Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Senator Charles Schumer and many other powerful and influencial political luminaries.

That was not enough to counter Michael Bloomberg’s $96 million campaign expenditures, the prominent newspaper endorsements Bloomberg received (including The New York Times), and a few political blunders Ferrer made.

Mr. Bloomberg defeated Mr. Ferrer by a margin of 19 percent.

That brings us to the third former Bronx Borough President of Puerto Rican heritage seeking the New York City Mayoralty: Adolfo Carrion.

Mr. Carrion, running in this year's mayoral election, is a well liked and well respected former elected official and former member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. The long time Democrat, however, is not seeking the Democratic nomination. He will run as an Independent.

Will the third try be a charm for a Puerto Rican candidate making a credible run for Mayor of New York City?

Mr. Carrion greets a mother and daughter on the campaign trail.

On the plus side for Mr. Carrion, his status as an Independent may attract the support of voters disillusioned with the extreme partisanship displayed at the local and national level. Mr. Carrion can make the same successful case made by Mayor Bloomberg. The current mayor was able to convince voters that he if elected, he would serve the public and find common sense solutions, not just play partisan politics. Polls show that voters believe Mr. Bloomberg did just that in his two terms in office and that he did a good job.

While not arrestingly charming and charismatic, Mr. Carrion is affable, knowledgeable and competent. After many years in local politics -from district manager to NYC Council Member to Borough President- spending considerable time in Washington, D.C. circles, and with a degree in urban planning, Mr. Carrion really knows urban government inside and out.

At a personal level, he comes across as a gentleman’s gentleman. He is to politics what Gilberto Santarosa (“El Caballero de la Salsa”) is to Salsa music. Carrion is “El Caballero de la Politica,” an elegant, able professional that knows how to do his craft very well.

On the minus side, NYC Latino voters vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Once the Democratic candidate is nominated, it is expected that the vast majority of NYC Latino elected officials, community leaders and influencers will rally to support the Democratic candidate and look to attack Mr. Carrion on various fronts, including possibly asserting words to the effect that he is “not one of us.” They could make the case that Latinos must support the Democratic nominee because he or she champions public policy that supports poor and working class New Yorkers, not a Latino Independent that purportedly is not aligned with those values.

Can Mr. Carrion effectively counter that and secure the Latino vote -in addition to the Independent vote and a large chunk of the “Silent Majority” (large group of voters who do not express their views publicly)?

Can a Latino candidate that is not running as a Democrat win the New York City mayoralty?

This is unexplored territory. There are no easy answers or predictions. What is a fact is that, should Mr. Carrion somehow win the election, he would make a huge imprint in the annals of Latino political leadership in New York City and the United States.





About Carlos Giron. 

Carlos is a journalist and marketing communications professional based in NYC. Carlos is interested in sports, fitness, public affairs, culture and everything related to the "Big Apple." He can be reached at: vidacommunications@gmail.com