The Bronx is known for being a strongly Democratic borough. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama received 91 percent of the borough’s votes. It seems like the other parties don’t stand a chance against the Democratic nominees in the borough, but with the general election coming on Tuesday, Nov. 5, we thought it would only be democratic to introduce you to all of the options in local races. There is more information about some candidates than others.

Ironically, many of the candidates running under other parties (ex. Republican, Green, Independent) for this election are also Democrats. Below you’ll find information on candidates in 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Council Districts here in the Bronx. And if you’re still not sure, find out where you need to vote here.

Editor’s Note: (D)=Democrat; (R)=Republican; (C)=Conservative; (G)=Green Party; (WF)=Working Families; (SC)=School Choice.

District 11

Andrew Cohen (D, WF)

Cohen, the Democratic nominee, is an attorney standing on a platform of working families. He has several issues that he wants to be proactive about, such as education. He wants to give parents more of a voice in the arena and expand the city’s pre-k program. Along with education, he plans to improve senior citizens involvement, and city council reform (including the elimination of “lulus” or stipends).

Patricia Brink (R)

Brink, the Republican nominee, was uncontested in the primary race, and there isn’t any information on the platform she’s running on.

Rev. William Kalaidjian (C)

Kalaidjian was nominated as a write-in Conservative candidate, but has no desire to be in public office. He has been an ordained minister for over 60 years.

John H. Reynolds (G)

Reynolds, the Green Party nominee, is a freelance IT consultant who’s been in the Green Party for over 12 years and wants to bring to light social, economic, and environmental justice for the district he will potentially serve.

Cheryl “Shelley” Keeling (SC)

Keeling’s platform is “Running 4 Change.” She’s promoting herself as a woman athlete who teaches high school track and tennis, a business owner for 34 years, and a Riverdale resident for the past 25 years. She feels strongly about education and quality of life issues. She wants to push for more after-school programs in the arts, music, and competitive athletics so students can be well-rounded and competitive. She also wants to fight for small business owners, senior protection, affordable housing, and higher minimum wages.

District 14

Fernando Cabrera (D)

Cabrera is the current councilman for the district looking to be reelected. If reelected, he wants to continue to work on crime, youth and senior citizen issues, tenant rights, and schools. During his current term, he endorsed a plan to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a massive ice skating center and says it will help youth and provide job opportunities. He passed a bill this year to make detailed crime statistics available to the public via an interactive map, an idea he took from the Norwood News and improved on. He also helped turn the Armory into a makeshift command center for helping victims of last year’s hurricane.

Denise Butler (R)

Butler is the Republican nominee for this election. She was uncontested in the primary race and there is no further information about her campaign.

Alan H. Reed (C)

Reed, the Conservative nominee, has no further information about his campaign.

District 15

Ritchie Torres (D, WF)

Torres, the Democratic nominee, is 25 years old, but comes with more than seven years of experience in politics working with Councilman James Vacca, mostly on housing issues. The issues he’s standing on are affordable housing, employment with decent wages, and making sure schools have enough of the resources for students to succeed.

Joel Ray Rivera (R)

Rivera, is the Republican nominee, but says he is a Democrat “at heart” with conservative view issues like same-sex marriage. He might be mistaken for term-limited Joel Rivera (the current councilman), but he’s completely different. His major issue is affordable housing like his Democratic counterpart Torres, and he wants to improve on affordable healthcare, youth services, education, and opportunities in employment and education. Rivera doesn’t live or have his campaign headquarters in the district.

Joel Bauza (C)

Bauza is the Conservative nominee and senior pastor at Calvary Church. He has a long list of issues he wants to address as a potential councilmember such as immigration reform, anti-gun programs, affordable housing and eviction protection, and minimum wages. He’s pro-charter schools, after-school and weekend programs, helping the homeless with food and shelter, saving senior centers, and crime safety.  Listening to the people is important to him and will make his office a place to seek refuge, find information and help if elected.

–Kimberly Jacobs

District 12

Andy L. King (D, WF)

King is the current Democratic nominee and incumbent, having been voted in as a city council member in a special election last fall. He has four major platforms that he is focusing on for re-election: Empowering and Motivating Youth, Improving Access to Healthcare, Providing Care for Seniors, and Organizing for Positive Change. Those broad platforms consist of providing public safety, engaging the youth while connecting them with seniors in the community, small business development, advocating for seniors health, living, activities, and other services, providing living wages and affordable housing.

Robert Diamond (R, C)

Diamond is the Republican and Conservative nominee for this district, but there is no information about his campaign.

Trevor Archer (G)

Archer is the Green Party nominee running on a platform of education, housing, and healthcare. He wants voters to know that his priorities are to his council district and community, not a party or group of people.

District 16

Vanessa L. Gibson (D)

Gibson is the Democratic nominee and has a lot of issues she wants to tackle if elected to office, such as economic development like creating jobs and helping  small businesses; quality education and access to college; affordable housing, healthcare, and public transportation; community diversity and safety.

Benjamin Eggleston (R, C)

Eggleston is the Republican and Conservative nominee for the district. His primary election was uncontested and there is no further information about his campaign.

Carlos M. Sierra (I)

Sierra is an Independent nominee, but is also a Democrat. His priorities if elected are education, economic development, health, affordable housing, and jobs. Helping immigrants, youth, and seniors is part of his mission and the focus of the issues he wants to address as the potential council member.

Walter L. Newsome (JE)

Newsome is a Jobs and Education nominee, but is also a Democrat. His focus is on the quality of life in a clean, safe, and peaceful community by committing to providing proper tools and technology for law enforcement and residents. He says he’ll push to be a leader in the “green” building movement. Bringing the community together and pushing towards prosperity with boldness is his vision for the Bronx.

Editor’s Note: (D)=Democrat; (R)=Republican; (C)=Conservative; (G)=Green Party; (WF)=Working Families; (SC)=School Choice.