Ryder Kessler is a nonprofit leader and political organizer who founded and helped lead Abundance New York, an advocacy organization of 4,500 members focused on housing, transit, and good government. He previously challenged Assembly Member Deborah Glick in 2022, finishing with 30% of the vote. He fully supports Citizens Union’s reform agenda. During his interview, Citizens Union found him energetic, well-rounded, and deeply knowledgeable on our priorities, with a demonstrated ability to build broad coalitions. Citizens Union jointly prefers Kessler in this race.

David Siffert is a nonprofit lawyer and professor at NYU who has spent years working directly with organizations like Citizens Union on issues including FOIL reform, Board of Elections restructuring, and police accountability. He fully supported Citizens Union’s reform agenda and offered more detail on CU’s specific issues than any other candidate in this race. Citizens Union valued his behind-the-scenes effectiveness, his deep knowledge of the legislative process, and his ability to negotiate with adversaries, illustrated by his year-long negotiations with the NYPD on the POST Act, which took place while he was simultaneously suing them. Citizens Union jointly prefers Siffert in this race.

Ben Yee is a chief of staff at a start-up and a longtime technologist with an extensive background in civic engagement, including serving as New York State Digital Director for the 2008 Obama campaign and as a Democratic State Committee Member for the district. He fully supported Citizens Union’s reform agenda and offered thoughtful, specific ideas on transparency, ranked-choice voting, and campaign finance, citing his previous work in the good government space. Citizens Union appreciated that experience and commitment to good government in a field full of reform-minded candidates. Citizens Union looks forward to Yee’s continued involvement in our issues.

Jeannine Kiely is a co-founder of the Literacy Academy Collective, which opened two public schools for students with dyslexia, and a longtime community activist with 14 years on Community Board 2. She fully supported Citizens Union’s reform agenda and demonstrated familiarity with good government issues around transparency, voting access, and campaign finance. She has the endorsement of retiring Assembly Member Glick. Citizens Union commends Kiely’s drive to serve the public and hopes she continues to channel her energy into civic affairs.

Corinne Arnold brings experience as a small-business owner and as president of a 500-unit cooperative. She fully supported Citizens Union’s reform agenda and is centering her campaign on housing, her primary area of expertise. Citizens Union appreciates her dedication to serving her community of neighbors.

Furhan Ahmad is a retired FDNY firefighter with 23 years of service who was motivated to run after seeing firsthand how social crises, particularly mental health emergencies, were being handled by first responders ill-equipped to address them. He fully supported Citizens Union’s reform agenda and zeroed in on transparency and accountability as his main focus within our issues. Citizens Union thanks Ahmad for his long and dedicated service to our city.