Wash Heights Council Race: Who Will Succeed Ydanis Rodriguez?

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — For the first time since 2009, Washington Heights and Inwood will have somebody other than Ydanis Rodriguez representing them in the City Council.

In 2021, there is a crowded field of eight candidates running in the 10th District, which covers the two neighborhoods and Marble Hill.

The candidates range from local Assembly members to immigration and criminal justice attorneys to teachers that work in Upper Manhattan.

Five of the eight candidates have raised over $15,000 in campaign funds as of Tuesday — three have raised over $60,000.

Here's more information on the eight candidates.

James Behr

• No Available Information

Carmen De La Rosa

• Private Money Raised: $72,603
• Public Money Raised: $160,420
• Money Spent: $54,699
• De La Rosa is maybe the most recognizable name in the field of candidates. The Dominican Republic native and Inwood resident has represented Upper Manhattan in the Assembly since 2016. Before that, she began her career in politics working for Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnel and was appointed Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez's chief of staff in 2014.

Manny De Los Santos

• Private Money Raised: $26,517
• Public Money Raised: 0
• Money Spent: $5,404
• De Los Santos was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in Washington Heights. In 2014, he ran for Assembly District 72 and finished second in the democratic primary. He currently serves as the male district leader for the 72nd Assembly District - Part B and holds a position on the Community Board 12.

Angela Fernandez

• Private Money Raised: $61,063
• Public Money Raised: $107,981
• Money Spent: $49,023
• Fernandez started her career as a journalist at ABC News, before becoming the district Chief of Staff for Congressman Jose Serrano in Upper Manhattan. During the period, she was able to help raise $800,000 for a scholarship fund for students of Dominican descent. Fernandez also worked as the Executive Director for the Northern Manhattan Immigrant Rights Coalition, and most recently, as the Commissioner of the NYS Division of Human Rights.

Johanna Garcia

• Private Money Raised: $64,126
• Public Money Raised: $160,444
• Money Spent: $48,606
• Garcia started her career by founding a family literacy program in the Bronx and a nonprofit in Washington Heights that increased local childcare quality. She also spent time working at the Dominican Women's Development Center. In 2009, Garcia worked as the then Council Member Robert Jackson's chief of staff for six years. She rejoined Jackson again in 2019 as the now State-Senator's chief of staff.

Josue Perez

• Private Money Raised: $15,476
• Public Money Raised: $54,340
• Money Spent: $12,442
• Perez is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and has worked as a math teacher for over 20 years. His platform centers around fighting for small business, tenants, and advocating for local children.

Tirso Pina

• Private Money Raised: 0
• Public Money Raised: 0
• Money Spent: 0
• Pina ran for New York State Senate in 2020 against Robert Jackson, which he lost with 15 percent of the vote. Patch was not able to find a campaign site or social media account for Pina.

Everett Reed

• Private Money Raised: $75
• Public Money Raised: 0
• Money Spent: $77
• Patch wasn't able to find any information about Reed.