Chris LeBron, a lifelong resident of Hell’s Kitchen, is a former City Council staffer and political consultant. He is a founding president of the W. 47th Street Tenants Association and an active member of the local community board and the Hell’s Kitchen Democratic Club. His top priorities are increasing the number of affordable housing units and passing good cause eviction, passing the New York Health Act, and increasing funding for public schools. LeBron supports all of Citizens Union’s policy goals, and spoke about the need to reform our election administration system and create a truly independent redistricting commission. Citizens Union was impressed by his deep ties to the community, his experience, and his spirited approach. We prefer him in this race.

Tony Simone was the director of community outreach with former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. He has years of political strategy experience, working with a variety of elected officials and campaigns. Most recently, he served as the Director of External Affairs with Hudson River Park Friends. His top priorities include protecting and expanding affordable housing by passing Good Cause Eviction, combating climate change, and improving New York’s healthcare system. Simone supports all of Citizens Union’s reform agenda. He proposed reforms to make it easier for candidates to run for office and improve campaign finance disclosure processes. Citizens Union was impressed by Simone’s breadth of experience and effective advocacy.

Harrison Marks is an attorney who worked in the investment and consulting industry, and served as a special advisor for the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama administration. His top priorities include navigating the public health crisis, improving quality of life in his district, and using technology to enhance government functions. He is supportive of all of Citizens Union’s reform agenda. He proposed improving digital citizen engagement with government, holding community board meetings online, reducing the campaign contribution limits and increasing the salary of state legislators. Citizens Union appreciates his experience and encourages him to continue his career of public service.

Layla Law-Gisiko, a documentarist and journalist, is running for this seat as a vocal opponent of the Penn District development plan. She has served on Manhattan’s Community Board 5 for seventeen years, and as the chair of its Land Use Committee, has led the fight against what she calls an “ill-conceived plan” to raze nine blocks around Penn Station. Relatedly, she seeks to reform the state’s economic development procedures and to repeal tax exemption for Madison Square Garden. Other reform proposals on her platform include replacing JCOPE with an ethics oversight agency with teeth, expanding early voting and no excuse absentee ballots, and expanding the state’s campaign finance system. She supports all of Citizens Union’s reform agenda. Her non-reform priorities include lowering class size in public schools and promoting affordable housing. Citizens Union appreciates her activism and service to her community and encourages her to continue her work for the betterment of New York.