Westchester Democratic Leadership Endorse Shawyn Patterson-Howard for Mayor of Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon and Westchester elected officials demonstrate their excitement and support for the Democratic nominee.

MOUNT VERNON, NY — In a show of strength that belied the political infighting currently plaguing Mount Vernon, on Saturday, July 20, 2019, city, state and federal Democratic leadership came together to endorse Shawyn Patterson-Howard, the certified Democratic nominee for the Mount Vernon Mayoral race. The party leaders looked toward the future and unified in their support of Patterson-Howard, a seasoned public sector executive and award winning community change agent respected for her decades of service to the city and Westchester County.

A call for unity and healing was the common refrain among the elected officials. They encouraged the people of Mount Vernon to band together in the face of unprecedented political turmoil and use their collective voices to move Mount Vernon forward. “The election is not over, there is still a race to run,” said Reginald Lafayette, Chair of the Mount Vernon Democratic Party. He urged the residents of Mount Vernon to continue supporting Patterson-Howard through the general election. Councilwoman Lisa Copeland echoed this sentiment, stating “we are in the same boat, we either sink or swim together.”

Party members also expressed their confidence in Patterson-Howard’s ability to provide a much-needed change in the city, citing her work throughout the county, her compassion, and strong moral character. “Shawyn is the type of person who will make a difference in people’s lives. She is hardworking, effective and she cares about people. And that’s a winning combination,” said Congressman Eliot L. Engel in his endorsement of the nominee.

In her speech, Patterson-Howard spoke not of herself, but of the importance of this coming General Election for the future of Mount Vernon and its connection to the county, citing the city’s history of large voter turnouts. “When you are able to deliver a solid voting block, your seat at the table becomes larger, we want to leverage our vote.” She called for Mount Vernon residents to show up at the polls this election to ensure that Mount Vernon reclaims its place as an integral part of Westchester County and New York State.

Members of the Democratic party represented included:

• Westchester County Executive George Latimer (in absentia)
• Reginald Lafayette, Chair, City of Mount Vernon Democratic Party
• Congressman Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
• New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
• New York State Senator Jamaal Bailey
• New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (in absentia)
• State Senator Shelley Mayer
• Westchester County Legislator Chris Johnson
• Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams (in absentia)
• Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow
• Councilmembers Lisa Copeland, Janice Duarte, Marcus Griffith
• Derrick Thompson, Democratic Nominee for Mount Vernon City Council.

About Shawyn Patterson-Howard:

The first woman and person of color appointed President and CEO of the YMCA of Yonkers, Shawyn is a well-respected community builder and skilled administrator, with a reputation for bridging gaps among diverse groups so they can effectively work together to address persistent challenges such as economic and workforce development, housing, public safety, public health, education, youth development, senior living and an array of other issues. She currently oversees a multi-million dollar budget. On June 25, 2019, Shawyn made history by winning the Mount Vernon Democratic mayoral primary. If elected mayor, Shawyn will focus on strengthening the local community and using her relationships on the city, county, state and federal levels to bolster Mount Vernon and restore trust in the city’s leadership. She would be the first woman elected in Mount Vernon’s history