East Harlem Assembly Election: Eddie Gibbs Candidate Profile

EAST HARLEM, NY — Voters in New York City's 68th Assembly District, covering East Harlem and parts of Central Harlem and the Upper East Side, will see two names on their ballots when they vote in the Jan. 18 special election.

One of those names will be Edward "Eddie" Gibbs, a consultant and district leader who won the Democratic nomination for the seat in a hard-fought battle last month.

His opponent is Republican Daby Benjaminé Carreras. Both candidates are running to replace Robert Rodriguez, who held the Assembly seat for more than a decade until he was appointed New York Secretary of State by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November.

Patch reached out to both candidates in the election to create these profiles. Gibbs's responses are below.

Age (as of Election Day)

54

Position Sought

New York State Assembly

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)

East Harlem

Family

Single

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Associates Degree - Cayuga Community College

Occupation

Consultant 15+ years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

District Leader

Campaign website

None at the moment

Why are you seeking elective office?

To continue to represent the East Harlem community in a Legislative capacity.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The two largest issues affecting my community are housing and crime. I intend to work in this position as an advocate on real issues concerning NYCHA, long-term affordability, and creating the family-sustaining jobs that keep working families in our neighborhoods and people out of trouble. Housing and crime are intrinsically linked to the economy we are creating and works in an ecosystem.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am not sure. I do not know of him. Never heard of him.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am the Democratic Nominee for the NYS Assembly in the 68th District. The former Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez did a good job while in Albany. I intend on building where he left off.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

When COVID-19 arrived in East Harlem, I was the only elected (District Leader) who developed real solutions to obtain food, hand sanitizers, masks, gloves, and other supplies and distribute to the most affected in our community – the Seniors. This went on for two years and is still happening! In addition, I was also given an opportunity to spearhead an initiative through Governor Cuomo as the Outreach Director for the “Ready Responders,” a group of medical professionals who were responsible for testing all NYCHA residents throughout NYC. I visited every NYCHA development in NYC during the pandemic to promote and inform the residents about the Ready Responders giving Covid exams at their apartments, building relationships with managers, tenant leaders, and residents themselves.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a formerly incarcerated individual, criminal justice reform is a major issue for me. I also believe in protecting the climate and protecting immigrant rights. Fundamentally, all these issues rest on workers rights and having a larger voice in our economy and democracy.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Getting to this point where 53% of the County Committee Members of the 68th Assembly voted me in to fill the NYS Assembly vacancy in the 68th Assembly is no walk in the park. I believe their confidence in me to fill this role is based on the work I have done in this community for the past 20+ years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"When the words are in your mouth you are the Master. When it leaves your mouth you are the Slave." You can't take back what you say! Criminal Attorney Murray Richman

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If elected, I will advocate at the state-level for leveling the playing field in several ways—from housing to criminal justice, and the economy—of which worker organizing and voice are paramount. Fundamentally, this means a couple of material policies: making it easier for neutrality and organizing campaigns when public dollars are involved; holding the contracts and obligations of the private sector and government accountable to their promises to the community through hearings and legislation; it is creating a two-way street of information and communication between my office and the constituents and institutions representing them therein. I will also dedicate significant time to restorative justice so every person in our society can succeed.

To learn more about the 68th District election and how to vote, view the official voting guide from NYC Votes.