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NY's First Haitian Councilman Mathiew Eugene Faces Another Election

NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Oct. 26, 2007: New York's first Haitian-born Councilman, who replaced Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on the City Council after two special elections marked by controversy, is set to face another election next month.

Dr. Mathieu Eugene, whose place of residence almost cost him the 40th District Seat earlier this year, faces off in the general election on November 6th against Clarence John, a Republican.

He is anticipating another landslide victory but warns, "It is imperative that the constituents go out to vote and not squander the victories of the past."

Councilman Eugene was unopposed in the September 18th Democratic primary. But some critics say he has been almost invisible since taking office. Eugene for his part claims he has been hard at work and has been able to secure $1.5 million for work at the Parade Ground in Prospect Park and $1.25 million to reconstruct the playground, fences and gates, and handball, and basketball courts at PS 92, the Parkside playground.

A computer lab at PS 139 is next in the stream of items being improved, to the tune of $ 75,000 capital grant, Dr. Eugene said. He lists as his other achievements so far, work with other councilmembers to secure funding to expand the performing arts center and to repair the roof of Brooklyn College's largest lecture hall. Eugene also claims he has allocated $300, 000 to the Advanced Biotechnology Incubator at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center so that its expansion can propel its reputation as a primary area in the City for advanced technology and promote the district as a hub for the creation of new business and education.

Councilmember Eugene's district comprises communities in Flatbush, East Flatbush, parts of Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts and Ditmas Park heavily populated by immigrants mostly from Haiti as well as other Caribbean countries.

He serves in the City Council on the committees of Aging; Immigration; Fire & Criminal Justice Services; Civil Rights; Environmental Protection and Lower Manhattan Redevelopment.