Election Could Prove Historic for Haitians, Pakistanis

Today's special election for a City Council seat representing parts of central Brooklyn could lead to a historic outcome: the election of the city's first Haitian or Pakistani council member (although there are 10 candidates in the race and no obvious front-runner).

Turnout for special elections is often poor, and with frigid weather sweeping the city, the number of voters heading to the polls to elect representatives from District 40 in Brooklyn and District 51 in Staten Island is expected to be particularly low. The effects of the low turnout are expected to be most pronounced in the District 40 race for the seat vacated by Rep. Yvette Clarke, a Democrat, where 10 candidates are competing and newspaper and political endorsements have gone to multiple candidates.

"We have 10 candidates and usually there is not a high voter turnout, so it may take a while" to determine a winner, a spokeswoman for the New York City Board of Elections, Valerie Vazquez, said. "That is definitely a possibility."

The race in District 40, which encompasses parts of Flatbush and Crown Heights, has garnered the most attention in recent weeks, because of the potential for a historic outcome and the vast candidate pool.

The council district is home to many residents of Caribbean descent and includes sizable Jewish, Indian, and Pakistani populations.

Candidate Mathieu Eugene, a medical doctor born in Haiti, has the most political weight behind him, having won endorsements from Ms. Clarke and her mother, Una Clarke, who said she made history in 1991 when she was the first immigrant woman elected to the City Council. Dr. Eugene is supported by Haitian musician Wyclef Jean, who flew to New York from Los Angeles to speak at a campaign party on Saturday night in Brooklyn.

Language barriers between District 40's English-speaking Caribbean population and French-speaking Haitians have kept the groups separated. Una Clarke said she thinks Dr. Eugene's election to the council would unify the Caribbean immigrant community, which could emerge as a stronger political force in years to come.

"I want to move the Haitian community out of isolation," she said, adding that she sees Dr. Eugene as a Caribbean-American instead of simply as a Haitian. "I am as big as the waters of the Caribbean and so is Mathieu Eugene."

The candidate's popularity also has cut across ethnic lines. He is endorsed by two Jewish publications, Jewish Press and Jewish Week, his campaign manager said.

A Pakistani-born businessman running to replace Ms. Clarke, Mohammad Razvi, brought in the most money in the race, raising $44,754 and receiving $78,364 in matching funds from the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

Other candidates in the race include Jesse Hamilton, who was endorsed by the New York Times, and Jennifer James, who won the Daily News's endorsement.

In Staten Island's District 51, the southernmost district in the borough, Democrat Emanuele Innamorato is running against Republican Vincent Ignizio to replace Andrew Lanza, recently elected to the state Senate.

The candidates were not deterred by the icy gusts blowing across the city on Presidents Day. They bundled up in hats and scarves for a final round of campaigning at subway stops, on sidewalks, and inside shops, where they could defrost and introduce themselves to captive audiences. On the cold streets, passersby were usually willing to indulge only in brief handshakes before heading on their way.

Even with campaign signs plastered on storefront windows and candidates trying to be as visible as possible, some city residents said yesterday they were unaware of today's special election.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't really know about it," a 15-year resident of District 40, Rey Cabreja, said. He voted in the November election and seemed perplexed to learn of the City Council race. "I thought all the elections was done already," he said.