Brooklyn Borough President Race: Mathieu Eugene Seeks Office

BROOKLYN, NY — As early voting begins in New York City, the stage is set for voters in Brooklyn to choose who will become their next borough president.

The June 22 primary will feature 12 Democratic candidates vying to replace Borough President Eric Adams, who is running to become New York City's next mayor.

Among them is Mathieu Eugene, the current City Council member for Brooklyn's 40th City Council District, which includes parts of East Flatbush, Flatbush, Crown Heights and Midwood.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Eugene's responses are below:

Position Sought

Brooklyn Borough President

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Neighborhood of residence

N/A

Family

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Universidad del Noreste in Mexico

Occupation

NYC Council Member since 2007

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

www.mathieueugene.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking to be the next Brooklyn Borough President because I have a proven track record of service and the ability to improve the quality of life for all people. Brooklyn is facing so many challenges right now in areas including health, education, gun violence, and community safety. I have been addressing all of these issues for many years before my work in the Council and I believe I have the ability, the dedication, and the experience to improve our response to these areas of concern that are affecting our borough while making Brooklyn a more vibrant place for people to live and raise their children.

I remain committed rebuilding the local economy by restoring the health and well-being of the community, securing more affordable housing in the borough, increasing funding for education, working to create more local job opportunities and vocational training, and creating more sustainable parks and green spaces.

My focus is on using the many partnerships and relationships within the community that I have established during my career to strengthen our borough and help us create a stronger and more vibrant future that will benefit Brooklyn and New York City.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The top priority of New York City needs to be to create a better infrastructure to protect against the spread of infectious disease and similar public health crises. We were not prepared for COVID-19, and it has completely disrupted our way of life over a year after the first cases were detected in March of 2020.

I introduced legislation in 2018 which was passed in 2020 to create a Special Permanent Commission to study the spread of infectious disease and similar public health emergencies, because this will not be the last virus we face and we need to be proactive now to have a better chance at preventing another complete shutdown of society.

This initiative will be my main priority as Brooklyn Borough President, and I will also continue my advocacy to provide educational resources for our students, implement more initiatives that spur job creation and job training, and find more ways to create affordable housing that New Yorkers can afford. If we are going to rebuild our city, we need to focus on the areas where our communities have been left behind, and do more to secure funding so that everyone has a fair shot at success, regardless of socioeconomic status or income level.

I have spent my entire career in public service, and I am committed to utilizing the partnerships that I have created to help rebuild Brooklyn and improve the quality of life for all its residents.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the most senior member of the City Council and I have spent my entire career in public service providing resources and opportunities to the community. I have the proven track record of success in providing resources and opportunities for those who need them most and I am committed to continuing that advocacy as Brooklyn Borough President.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The key to emergency response is preparation and to understand the challenges that will arise. I have said for many years that our city was not prepared for a public health emergency, and we all saw firsthand the many difficulties that our first responders, medical professionals, and educators faced during COVID-19. People were forced to put themselves and their families in danger in order to save their fellow New Yorkers, and it is unfortunate that a lack of preparation led to this devastating circumstance. The legislation I sponsored is one step in the process of being more proactive and prepared for the next public health crisis, and I intend to be fully invested in the process of making a Special Permanent Commission to study infectious diseases a reality so that New Yorkers can feel more protected before the next public health crisis.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The most important issues facing Brooklyn are improved healthcare, access to affordable housing, improved education, and job creation. We need to remain committed to providing the best quality of healthcare possible to all New Yorkers, regardless of income level, and that is why I have advocated and funded to help hospitals in my district receive state-of-the-art medical equipment that saves lives. We need people to be reassured that the resources they require to stay healthy are at their local hospital and that they don’t need to travel far to receive their treatment.

The same goes for education and affordable housing. We need to do more so that quality education and safe affordable housing is available in communities where it has been lacking. I have spent many years fighting for and advocating to secure funding for expanded education resources and affordable housing, and I am proud to say that my work has led to results in my district. We are building new affordable housing at the former site of PS 90 on Church Avenue, which will also be home to a vocational training center, so that young people will have an opportunity to attain the skills needed for quality jobs where they can build their careers. If we give our youth the tools they need to succeed in their education and their ability to get hired for good jobs, we will see drastic improvements in the quality of life, and that is what I am committed to doing as Brooklyn Borough President.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served as an elected official since 2007, and prior to that I spent many years creating and running successful non-profit organizations in Brooklyn and abroad, so I have the experience needed to continue my advocacy on day one. I also have spent many years building partnerships throughout New York City, and that is an advantage that I believe will be extremely useful as I begin implementing more programs to help the community.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice I was given is that there is no perfection, and that every day we can find ways of being better than we were the day before, etc. That is a lesson that has guided me in my career in public service and is one that I continue to impart on people who I mentor.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that I have the experience, the dedication, and the proven track record to lead Brooklyn towards a stronger and more vibrant future, especially as we work to rebuild and recover post COVID-19.
I have been a dedicated public servant all of my life, many years before being elected to the City Council and it is something that I am passionate about doing and I am excited about the opportunity to continue doing it for the entire borough of Brooklyn.

As a parent, a former teacher, a master of martial arts, a medical doctor, and a member of several community-based organizations, I understand the needs of the community and I have been working very hard for many years to fulfill them. The City of New York has the ability to deliver resources in so many areas of life that are crucial for the success of our community. I am committed to leading that fight as Brooklyn Borough President, and I am most appreciative for the support I am receiving.

Read More:

• Brooklyn Borough President Race: Where Things Stand