Gale Brewer
Member of the New York City Council
from the 6th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byHelen Rosenthal
In office
January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2013
Preceded byRonnie Eldridge
Succeeded byHelen Rosenthal
27th Borough President of Manhattan
In office
January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021
Preceded byScott Stringer
Succeeded byMark Levine
Personal details
Born (1951-09-06) September 6, 1951
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCal Snyder
EducationBennington College (BA)
Harvard University (MPA)
Columbia University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

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.

Education

Brewer graduated from the Winsor School in Boston in 1969,[1] and then obtained a bachelor's from Bennington College in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1990.[2] She then earned a second bachelor's from the Columbia University School of General Studies in 1997.[3]

Career in government

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 Green.[4][5]

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.[4][5] In 2000, she was cited by the New York Daily News as #20 of "50 New Yorkers to Watch".[6]

Political career

New York City Council (2002–2013)

Brewer began serving on the New York City Council in 2002. She represented the 6th district.[7] In each re-election vote in 2003, 2005, and 2009, she received over 80% of the votes cast.[4]

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.[4]

Brewer chaired the Select Committee on Technology in Government (now the Committee on Technology) from 2002 to 2009[4] 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,[8] 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.[9] The report was one of numerous initiatives and events implemented by the Select Committee, which included roundtables, conferences, hearings, and collaborative partnerships.[10][9]

Manhattan Borough President (2014–2021)

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.[11] On September 10, 2013, Brewer won the Democratic primary, taking nearly 40% of the vote in a four-way race.[12] Brewer won the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013,[13] and assumed office in January 2014.[14][15]

Brewer was re-elected Manhattan Borough President in 2017.[16] Due to term limits for borough presidents, she was ineligible to seek re-election in 2021.[17]

In the 2020 United States presidential election, Brewer served as an alternate elector, replacing Christine Quinn.[18][19]

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.[20] She lost the Jim Owles Club endorsement to another Democrat Sara Lind and requested a second endorsement vote from the organization prior to the June Democratic Primary in 2021.[21] On November 2, 2021, Brewer defeated Republican Nancy Sliwa (wife of Curtis Sliwa) with over 82% of the vote.[22] Brewer's main progressive Democratic primary challenger in 2021, Sara Lind, was not reappointed to Manhattan Community Board 7 when her position came up for renewal in 2023.

Brewer chairs the City Council's Committee on Oversight and Investigations.[23] She is a member of the Committees on Consumer and Worker Protection, Finance, Governmental Operations, Higher Education, and Rules, Privileges, and Elections.[24] In addition, she is a member of the Manhattan Delegation, the Women's Caucus, and sits on the Budget Negotiating Team.[25][5]

Brewer is running for the City Council's new 6th district in 2023.[26]

Honors and Awards

In 2018, the Metropolitan College of NY awarded Gale Brewer an honorary doctorate citing her "long career on critical issues facing New York City from affordable housing and land use to health care and workers rights".[27]

Personal life

Brewer is married to Cal Snyder. Their son, Mo Sumbundu, works for Empire State Development. In 2023, Sumbundu was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to the Buffalo State University Council.[28] Brewer has had several foster children.[5]

Electoral history

2013

2013 Democratic primary election results - Manhattan Borough President[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gale Brewer 62,738
Democratic Jessica Lappin 37,292
Democratic Robert Jackson 30,873
Democratic Julie Menin 26,992
2013 general election results - Manhattan Borough President[13]
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

2017 Manhattan borough president election[16]
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

2021 New York City Council election, district 6[29]
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%
General election[22]
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

  1. ↑ "A Promise Kept: The Winsor Promise Campaign Report" (PDF). Winsor School.
  2. ↑ https://www.hks.harvard.edu/alumni/about/publications/annualreport
  3. ↑ https://www.gs.columbia.edu/news/manhattan-borough-president-speak-columbia-university-graduation
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gale A. Brewer profile". Biography. New York City Council. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Gale A. Brewer profile". Biography. New York City Council. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Saltonstall, Dave (January 1, 2001). "50 NEW YORKERS TO WATCH IN 2001". Daily News. p. 7. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ Saltonstall, Gus (December 14, 2020). "Gale Brewer Files To Run For Her Old UWS City Council Seat". Upper West Side, NY Patch.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. 1 2 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 February 13, 2006.
  10. ↑ "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. October 17, 2003. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ Walker, Hunter (February 17, 2012). "Brewer Says She's 'Definitely' Running For Manhattan Borough President". Observer. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "2013 Democratic Primary Election Results - Manhattan Borough President" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "2013 General Election Results - Manhattan Borough President" (PDF). Vote.NYC. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Contributor Gale A Brewer". HuffPost.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "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.
  17. ↑ Khurshid, Samar (September 16, 2020). "With 5 Candidates Declared, 2021 Manhattan Borough President Race Has Begun". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ Cuomo, Andrew M.; Stewart-Cousins, Andrea; Heastie, Carl E. (November 5, 2019). "2020 Electoral College Results; New York Certificate of Vote 2020". National Archives. pp. 3, 2. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  19. ↑ Brehm, Robert A.; Valentine, Todd D. (November 3, 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 November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ Tannenhauser, Carol (December 12, 2020). "Gale Brewer Files to Run for Her Old City Council Seat in 2021". West Side Rag. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Gale Brewer requests revote after losing an endorsement to City Council challenger". February 4, 2021.
  22. 1 2 "2021 NYC Election Results" (PDF). Vote.NYC. November 29, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Committee on Oversight and Investigations". New York City Council. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Welcome". Gale Brewer. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Committees". New York City Council. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ "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.
  27. ↑ Gale Brewer at MCNY 2018 Commencement, retrieved January 8, 2024
  28. ↑ "Buffalo State Council | SUNY Buffalo State University".
  29. ↑ "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.
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