Things were a little quieter in the 15th this week as Charlie Rangel and his challengers allowed the tumultuous events of the past few weeks to sink in. New scandals involving other local politicians, each more absurd then the next, took the focus off of Rangel’s ethics investigation. Rep. Massa’s tickle monster and snorkeling requests had enough juice to steal some headlines and national attention, something I’m sure Rangel is grateful for as he tries to save face since relinquishing his position on the Ways and Means Committee. Other absurdities included Hiram Monseratte, despite being the Chris Brown of local politicians, continuing a push to run for state senate again.
Meanwhile, Reverend Michel Faulkner, the only Republican challenger to step up in the 15th, issued a bold press statement, saying that he is looking to retire Rangel. Faulkner has been a reverend in Harlem for the past 20 years, and as the National Review pointed out, is used to losing since he played a season with the NY Jets. Forgive them for being skeptical, but Faulkner faces an uphill battle even if ignoring the fact that Rangel is a 20 term incumbent.
The 15th CD in New York is routinely called the second most Democratic congressional district in the country. As the National Review post points out, Faulkner is focusing on changing Harlem’s incredibly low voter turnout rate, and maintaining a grass roots campaign that has him talking to passers-by on Harlem street corners. I had the chance to speak with Faulkner a few weeks ago, before Rangel had been admonished by Congress.
I questioned Faulkner as to how a Republican could stand a chance in the 15th. He called himself a Republican with a small ‘r’ and went on to say that while the GOP had not demonstrated itself to be the best at understanding or outreach towards urban America, voters should look at the man, not the party. “The ideals are there, but they need a shake-up,” he said, and that people need to get beyond party labels.
He pointed out that Rangel had served Harlem as one of the most powerful people in the Congress, and citing the high unemployment rates suffered by Black and Hispanics, said that one would expect the situation in the district to be better. “His policies have failed,” said Faulkner. “He’s spent a tremendous amount of money, but where is it being spent?”
Faulkner thinks that Rangel has lost touch with the community as he got engulfed by the national political system, and now had a disconnect from the community. “I see what’s being done as an abuse of democracy,” said Faulkner. The average citizen sees what’s going on and it tells them their vote doesn’t count, he said, leading to distrust, a disconnect, and apathy. Faulkner compared a voter in Harlem to a sufferer of Stockholm Syndrome.
Faulkner said he hoped to tremendously increase voter turnouts in Harlem and that he planned on going after the disenfranchised voters.
“America is better than this,” he said. “This community deserves better.”