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Political Rumble in the South Bronx
February 4, 2005
Election Results: Arroyo Wins
Maria del Carmen Arroyo, a health care administrator and daughter of South Bronx Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, dominated a four-person field vying for the 17th District seat. Arroyo polled 1,828, while her closest competitor, businessman William Alicea, had 726.
-Posted Feb. 16. 2005
On February 15, the South Bronx will hold a special election to fill the New York City Council seat left vacant when former Councilmember Jose M. Serrano was elected to the New York State Senate last fall.
But even the most attentive voter will have trouble sorting out the race, which is full of candidates with similar names, powerful political families, legal challenges, and unfortunately, very little discussion of the critical issues facing the South Bronx.
The first challenge for voters is figuring out who is who.
Of the seven candidates who filed with the Board of Elections, two are named Torres: George Torres and Alberto Torres.
There are also two candidates with the last name Serrano - Peter Jose Serrano and Charles Serrano - neither of whom are related to each other, to the former council member, or his father U.S. Representative Jose Serrano.
Some voters may recognize Maria del Carmen Arroyo - daughter of State Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo - who is hoping her last name will carry some clout.
"This election doesn't bode well for district," said the former Councilmember Jose M. Serrano. "There is already a lot of voter cynicism and apathy in the district. When you have shenanigans like candidates with the same name... voters will just stay home."
Another issue is who will actually be on the ballot on Election Day.
George Torres, the chief-of-staff for the former council member, who had the endorsement of the Working Families Party and had raised about $22,000, thought he was a clear frontrunner.
"I'm familiar with the position, so it will be an easy transition," said George Torres confidently.
Then, after facing legal challenges from several other candidates, Torres was knocked off the ballot because he did not have enough valid signatures.
Two other candidates, Arline Parks, a community activist, and Peter Serrano, chairperson of the group South Bronx Concerned Citizens, were also knocked off the ballot.
All three candidates are appealing the decision.
As it currently stands, there are four remaining candidates, each who say they can help revive the area that has improved in recent years, but is still plagued by a long list of urban ills.
Around 35 percent of the population is dependent on public assistance and, in some neighborhoods, life expectancy for young men is no higher than in Bangladesh. Among New York City council districts, it ranks first in unemployment, failing schools, and HIV infection.
However, there have been no candidate debates or forums for residents to learn about those running.
Maria Arroyo, director of a diagnostic treatment center, is particularly concerned with the high rate of HIV infection, which she links to the high number of temporary housing units and drug treatment centers.
"The young man on the street believes HIV is a treatable disease, something that can be managed with drugs, said Arroyo. "We need to educate about the realities of HIV."
Arroyo blames the former council member for many of the area's problems, arguing he allowed the rest of the city to dump its trash and homeless shelters into the city's poorest neighborhoods.
"This area has been so poorly represented� I have nothing nice to say," Arroyo said of Serrano.
William Alicea, a former housing commissioner and former Democratic district leader, also sees neglect at the root of many problems in the South Bronx, though he prefers to focus on the area's economic potential.
"We have to use consumer market concepts to improve the South Bronx," said Alicea. "We have the most undervalued waterfront in the city. We will make that waterfront accessible."
Neither Alberto Torres, a former law partner of former Bronx Democratic Party chief Roberto Ramirez, nor Charles Serrano could be reached for comment.
And several of the candidates say they had never heard of Charles Serrano before he filed with the Board of Elections.
"We suspect Charles Serrano ran to confuse voters who would vote for Peter Jose Serrano, thinking that he was Jose M. Serrano," said Arline Parks.
Voters will also not be able to look for familiar political parties labels like Democrat or Republican to help them make their choices. Special elections are nonpartisan, there are no party primaries, and each candidate makes up their own party name.
Maria Arroyo is running on the "New Horizons Party" line. William Alicea is on the "New Bronx United Party" line. Alberto Torres is designated as the "Community at Work Party." And Charles M. Serrano is running for "Justice Party."
The county's Democratic Party is not also publically endorsing anyone. And with his former chief-of-staff out of the race, the former council member is not backing anyone.
"I'm tempted to just stay out of this one," said Jose M. Serrano.
According to statements filed with the Campaign Finance Board of February 4, Alicea had raised the most money with $38,159 and Alberto Torres had raised $32,658. Maria del Carmen Arroyo lagged behind them with $12,585. Charles Serrano did not register with the campaign finance board.
Whoever wins on February 15 will have to run again in the Primary and General Elections this fall.
-Updated Feb. 10, 2005

