In a turn of events no one saw coming, only two out of the almost dozen candidates in the race for the 41st City Council District received matching funds last week from the City’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB).
Last Thursday the CFB issued its first round of matching public funds for the Sept. 12 2017 primary elections which went to Alicka Ampry-Samuel and Henry Butler.
Butler was the only candidate to receive the maximum amount of $95,095 in the first round. Butler has long been considered a favorite going into the primaries as president of the powerful Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA) club and support from local labor unions.
“I’m so honored to see how many people from our community contributed their hard-earned dollars to support my campaign and our vision for City Council. This is a real testament to our grassroots momentum. I’m also grateful to be running for office in a city that makes it possible for community-backed candidates like me, to stay competitive with low-dollar donations,” said Butler.
Among these supporters are Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright and State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, both of whom have districts that overlap into the 41st City Council District.
Amry-Samuel is a born and raised Brownsville resident with Juris Doctorate from CUNY Law School, who has vast experience in government and into the needs of the district as a long-term resident. Not to mention, she has the support of lifelong friend and political ally Assemblywoman Latrice Walker.
“The donations received represents our community’s support of me becoming the next City Council member in the 41st district. I am grateful and thank the many contributors who believe in this movement, in this campaign. It truly means a lot. Over the next 40 days I look forward to talking with residents about ways to improve and empower the neighborhoods of Brownsville, Ocean Hill, Bed-Stuy, East Flatbush and Crown Heights,” said Ampry-Samuel.
Among the top-tier candidates that surprisingly didn’t get matching funds were East Flatbush Democratic District Leader Cory Provost, and dark horse candidate Diedre Olivera.
Candidates that didn’t receive funding have until Aug. 11 to amend and/or fix any problems with their fundraising filings, and may get funding on Aug. 17.
Other candidates in the race originally included Kathleen Daniel, Jamell Henderson and Antoine “Uncle Roy” Royston. However, Daniel dropped out of the race and Henderson was kicked off the ballot.
The 41st Council District includes Brownsville and parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and East Flatbush.
