Gale Brewer
Gale Arnot Brewer (born September 6, 1951) is an American Democratic politician from the state of New York who has represented the 6th New York City Council District since January 2022, a position she previously held from 2002 to 2013. From January 2014 to December 2021, she served as the 27th Borough President of the New York City borough of Manhattan.
Gale Brewer | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the New York City Council from the 6th district | |
Assumed office January 1, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Helen Rosenthal |
In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Ronnie Eldridge |
Succeeded by | Helen Rosenthal |
27th Borough President of Manhattan | |
In office January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Scott Stringer |
Succeeded by | Mark Levine |
Personal details | |
Born | September 6, 1951 |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Cal Snyder |
Education | Bennington College (BA) Columbia University (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
Website | Official website |
Education
Brewer graduated from the Winsor School in Boston in 1969,[1] and then obtained her undergraduate degrees from Bennington College in 1973 and Columbia University in 1997. She then earned her Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Career
From 1975 to 1978, Brewer served as director of scheduling for Mary Anne Krupsak, the former Lieutenant Governor of New York. From 1978 to 1990, she was chief of staff to then-New York City Council member Ruth Messinger. From 1990 to 1994, Brewer was director of the New York City Office of Federal Relations in New York in the administration of David Dinkins. From 1994 to 1998, she was Deputy Public Advocate for Intergovernmental Affairs under Mark J. Green.[2]
Brewer then served as Project Manager for the NYC Nonprofits Project and worked with the Telesis Corporation, a private firm that builds affordable housing. She was a member of Manhattan's Community Board 7 and Chair of the New York State chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus.[2] In 2000, she was cited by the New York Daily News as #20 of "50 New Yorkers to Watch".[3]
New York City Council (2002-2013)
Brewer began serving on the New York City Council in 2002. She represented the 6th district.[4] In each re-election vote in 2003, 2005, and 2009, she received over 80% of the votes cast.[2]
Brewer has helped to pass legislation protecting domestic workers, establishing the New York City Broadband Advisory Committee, establishing an electronic death registration system and requiring New York City publications to be made available via the Internet, as well as two bills aimed at eliminating graffiti and unwanted stickers.[2]
Brewer chaired the Select Committee on Technology in Government (now the Committee on Technology) from 2002 to 2009[2] In June 2004, in conjunction with a graduate student Digital Opportunities Team at CUNY Hunter College departments of Urban Affairs and Planning supervised by Professor Lisa Tolliver,[5] the committee published a study and recommendations titled Expanding Digital Opportunity in New York City Public Schools: Profiles of Innovators and Leaders Who Make a Difference.[6] The report was one of numerous initiatives and events implemented by the Select Committee, which included roundtables, conferences, hearings, and collaborative partnerships.[7][6]
Manhattan Borough President (2014-2021)
Brewer was ineligible to run for re-election to the City Council in 2013 because of term limits. In February 2013, Brewer announced she would run for Manhattan Borough President.[8] On September 10, 2013, Brewer won the Democratic primary, taking nearly 40% of the vote in a four-way race.[9] Brewer won the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013,[10] and assumed office in January 2014.[11][12]
Brewer was re-elected Manhattan Borough President in 2017.[13] Due to term limits for borough presidents, she was ineligible to seek re-election in 2021.[14]
In the 2020 United States presidential election, Brewer served as an alternate elector, replacing Christine Quinn.[15][16]
New York City Council (2022-present)
In December 2020, Brewer announced her candidacy for her former City Council seat in the 2021 New York City Council election.[17] On November 2, 2021, Brewer defeated Republican Nancy Sliwa (wife of Curtis Sliwa) with over 82% of the vote.[18]
Brewer chairs the City Council's Committee on Oversight and Investigations.[19] She is a member of the Committees on Consumer and Worker Protection, Finance, Governmental Operations, Higher Education, and Rules, Privileges, and Elections.[20] In addition, she is a member of the Manhattan Delegation, the Women's Caucus, and sits on the Budget Negotiating Team.[21]
Brewer is running for the City Council's new 6th District in 2023.[22]
Personal life
Brewer is married to Cal Snyder. Their son, Mo Sumbundu, works for Empire State Development. Brewer has had several foster children.[2]
Electoral history
2013
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gale Brewer | 62,738 | ||
Democratic | Jessica Lappin | 37,292 | ||
Democratic | Robert Jackson | 30,873 | ||
Democratic | Julie Menin | 26,992 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gale Brewer | 202,966 | ||
Republican | David Casavis | 37,421 | ||
Independence | David Casavis | 2,731 | ||
Libertarian | David Casavis | 1,392 | ||
Dump the Dump Party (New York) | David Casavis | 976 | ||
Total | David Casavis | 42,520 | ||
Write-in | ||||
Unrecorded | 30,149 | |||
Total votes | 275,474 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
2017
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gale Brewer | 194,237 | 76.64 | |
Working Families | Gale Brewer | 16,495 | 6.51 | |
Total | Gale Brewer (incumbent) | 210,732 | 83.15 | |
Republican | Frank Scala | 30,410 | 12.00 | |
Green | Daniel Vila Rivera | 7,373 | 2.91 | |
Libertarian | Brian Waddell | 3,430 | 1.35 | |
Reform | Brian Waddell | 1,209 | 0.48 | |
Total | Brian Waddell | 4,639 | 1.83 | |
Write-in | 276 | 0.11 | ||
Total valid votes | 253,430 | 93.14 | ||
Rejected ballots | 18,650 | 6.85 | ||
Total votes | 272,080 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
2021
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Gale Brewer | 21,594 | 54.8% | |
Democratic | Maria Danzilo | 5,834 | 14.8% | |
Democratic | Sara Lind | 5,166 | 13.1% | |
Democratic | Jeffrey Omura | 3,922 | 9.9% | |
Democratic | David Gold | 1,867 | 4.7% | |
Democratic | Zack Weiner | 959 | 2.4% | |
Democratic | Write-ins | 57 | 0.1% | |
Total votes | 39,399 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gale Brewer | 35,792 | 82.6% | |
Republican | Nancy Sliwa | 5,194 | 12.0% | |
unrecorded | 2,144 | |||
Total votes | 43,321 | 100% |
References
- "A Promise Kept: The Winsor Promise Campaign Report" (PDF). Winsor School.
- "Gale A. Brewer profile". Biography. New York City Council. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- Saltonstall, Dave (January 1, 2001). "50 NEW YORKERS TO WATCH IN 2001". Daily News. p. 7. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- Saltonstall, Gus (December 14, 2020). "Gale Brewer Files To Run For Her Old UWS City Council Seat". Upper West Side, NY Patch.
- Select Committee on Technology in Government of the New York City Council (June 2004). "Thanks and Acknowledgements". Expanding Digital Opportunity in New York City Public Schools: Profiles of Innovators and Leaders Who Make a Difference (PDF). p. 19.
the graduate student Digital Opportunities Team at CUNY Hunter College departments of Urban Affairs and Planning was comprised of Danisa Dambrauskas, Kazu Hoshino, Gavin O'Donoghue, and Jennifer Vallone and supervised by Professor Lisa Tolliver.
- Select Committee on Technology in Government of the New York City Council (June 2004). Expanding Digital Opportunity in New York City Public Schools: Profiles of Innovators and Leaders Who Make a Difference (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-02-13.
- "Fall 2003 Hearing and Event Schedule for The New York City Select Committee on Technology in Government, Chaired by Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan)". Solutions for State and Local Government Technology. 17 October 2003. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- Walker, Hunter (2012-02-17). "Brewer Says She's 'Definitely' Running For Manhattan Borough President". Observer. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- "2013 Democratic Primary Election Results - Manhattan Borough President" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- "2013 General Election Results - Manhattan Borough President" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- Varinsky, Dana (January 12, 2014). "Gale Brewer Sworn In as Manhattan Borough President". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- "Contributor Gale A Brewer". HuffPost.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- "General Election - 11/07/2017 New York County - All Parties and Independent Bodies" (PDF). vote.nyc. Board of Elections in the City of New York. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- Khurshid, Samar (September 16, 2020). "With 5 Candidates Declared, 2021 Manhattan Borough President Race Has Begun". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- Cuomo, Andrew M.; Stewart-Cousins, Andrea; Heastie, Carl E. (2019-11-05). "2020 Electoral College Results; New York Certificate of Vote 2020". National Archives. pp. 3, 2. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- Brehm, Robert A.; Valentine, Todd D. (3 November 2020). "AMENDED Certification for the November 3, 2020 General Election" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. pp. 5, 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- Tannenhauser, Carol (12 December 2020). "Gale Brewer Files to Run for Her Old City Council Seat in 2021". West Side Rag. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "2021 NYC Election Results" (PDF). Vote.NYC. November 29, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- "Committee on Oversight and Investigations". New York City Council. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- "Welcome". Gale Brewer. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- "Committees". New York City Council. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- "I'm running for re-election! (Yes, again!)". Gale Brewer for City Council. Again!. May 9, 2023. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- "2021 Primary Official Ranked Choice Rounds, DEM Council Member 6th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
External links
