Last night the New York mayoral candidates faced off in the second debate and in their 45-second opening statements a few things were apparent:
- Each candidate has polished their “elevator pitches” very well
- Andrew Yang is afraid of looking small
- Kathryn Garcia is the most experienced candidate
For more than twenty years I’ve been researching and writing about women in politics and I’ve seen this happen before: a qualified woman candidate is overshadowed by a flashy male newcomer who knows how to handle the media. The basic question: When will we elect more women? The basic answer: When experience is more important than fame.
In the debate last night, Andrew Yang’s first words were:
“Hello NYC! It’s great to be with you! (he has totally nailed the cheerful optimism many voters crave). For those watching at home, my friend Ray McGuire is 6 foot four.” He was referring to the candidate who had just made his pitch, and not only is Ray McGuire tall, he has an impressively strong, baritone voice. I had not noticed McGuire’s height, especially since the camera moved from McGuire to Yang individually.
What made Yang look especially small had nothing to do with the difference in height.
The most experienced candidate is Kathryn Garcia. Endorsed by the Daily News and the New York Times, Garcia served as commissioner for the New York City Sanitation Department. She started her career in NYC as an intern in the NYC Sanitation Department and then worked as a policy analyst for the NYC Department of Finance. She worked at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, including as Chief Operating Officer. She was interim chair at the New York City Housing Authority and food czar, during the COVID-19 crisis.
And Yang is worried that he looks small next to a 6’4″ man on stage? He looks small, but that’s only because he lacks the experience that Garcia has to run the city. Will New Yorkers value experience over media savvy and cheerleading?
This is a problem as old as time in American politics, and New York City has the opportunity to solve it.
If the mayor’s race doesn’t go to Garcia, I recommend that she run for president of the United States in 2024. For Yang, it has been his path to the NYC mayor’s race and when women run, women win.
Nothing against Yang, he is thoughtful and smart, but he simply is not the most qualified candidate. Will New York City voters see that?
If not, I suggest that Kathryn Garcia for President 2024. Looks like it is a stepping stone to the NYC Mayorship.
TalkDoc 