Central Harlem City Council Race: Jordan Faces GOP Nominee Marcus

HARLEM, NY — Harlem's City Council races didn't end with the June primary. Starting this month, voters will cast ballots in a number of general election races — including the 9th Council district, which covers all of Central Harlem and parts of East Harlem and Morningside Heights.

There will be two names on the ballot. One is Kristin Richardson Jordan, the socialist activist and writer who upset incumbent Bill Perkins this summer to become the Democratic nominee.

Her opponent is Alpheaus Marcus, a consultant and community advocate running as a Republican.

Jordan will be a heavy favorite in the Nov. 2 general election, given the district's strong Democratic tilt. Still, not all Harlem Democrats have spoken warmly of her bid: State Senate nominee Cordell Cleare declared last week that the party was "under attack," and Manhattan Democratic boss Keith Wright suggested recently that the party would work to prevent another outsider candidate from winning again.

Jordan, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, has a long list of policy priorities including calls to cut NYPD funding, halt evictions, raise taxes on the wealthy and stop NYCHA privatization plans.

"It's not about me, it's really about Harlem," Jordan said of her campaign, which she described as a "grassroots movement."

Marcus, meanwhile, told Patch that his top issues are crime, gentrification, "failing school districts" and NYCHA. He touts a 2016 effort where he and other advocates publicized poor conditions at the city's hundreds of public housing developments, and says he maintains a relationship with the agency's chairman.

"There is no accountability being held with City Hall," Marcus said of his reasons for running.

Early voting for the general election runs from Oct. 23–31. Voters can find their poll site and view a sample ballot on the Board of Elections website.

To learn more about each candidate, read the Patch candidate profiles of Kristin Richardson Jordan and Alpheaus Marcus, or visit each candidate's website. (Jordan, Marcus.)

In the coming days, Harlem Patch will publish previews of the nearby District 7 City Council general election, as well as the 30th State Senate district race.