A twenty-year veteran of the state Senate, Kevin Parker is the house’s Majority Whip and chairs the committee on Energy and Telecommunications. Parker is a prolific legislator who has passed over 90 laws during his tenure, addressing issues such as climate change, healthcare, housing and police reform. The latter is a top priority for him: he told Citizens Union about his proposals to make it easier to prosecute officers for misconduct and improve the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and he criticized Mayor Eric Adams for his rhetoric around crime and public safety. Parker also prioritizes voting reforms. Most recently, his legislation to require polling sites on college campuses was signed into law through the state budget. Other reform proposals focused on voting, including implementing an election day holiday, extending polling place timing, and restoring voting rights for incarcerated individuals. Parker did disagree with Citizens Union on two issues. He opposes special election reform and objects to moving the new state matching funds program outside the State Board of Elections, believing we should give the State BOE a chance to administer the program. Parker’s track record includes a history of heated confrontations with fellow lawmakers and others throughout his career. His explanation for such behavior, in which he told Citizens Union that he “won’t sit back when conflict is needed”, was insufficient. However, given his proven record in delivering policy achievements on voting rights, elections, and police reform, we prefer him in this race.

David Alexis is a ride-share organizer, former community health worker and socialist activist backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. He currently works for The Drivers Cooperative, a rideshare coop which Alexis describes as “the largest employee-owned coop in the country.” His top priorities include protecting tenants, making health care more affordable and addressing the climate crisis. Alexis supports all of CU’s agenda items. He believes that the Board of Elections needs to be overhauled to take power away from party leaders, that ethics oversight agencies should not feature members appointed by elected officials, and that voting should be made easier statewide. He supports the independent redistricting commission, but believes the body needs to be more insulated from partisan pressure going forward. CU does not prefer Alexis in this race because of his opponent’s proven track record on reform issues in the legislature.

Kaegen Mays-Williams is a lawyer for Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun violence prevention advocacy group. She previously spent ten years in the New York District Attorney’s office, where she worked in the Trial Division, the Public Corruption Unit and the Financial Frauds Bureau. Her top priorities include addressing gun violence, making childcare and eldercare more affordable and supporting small businesses. Mays-Williams supports all of CU’s reform items. She believes that New York must overhaul its election administration and expand voting access, and that members of the independent redistricting commission should no longer be appointed by elected officials. In her interview with CU, she said she’d support legislation that would hold police officers financially liable when sued for misconduct. CU is impressed by Mays-Williams’ command of policy issues and her plans for office.