From the Projects to City Hall?

One Bronx activist’s tries one vote at a time.
By Alan Kan April 18th, 2009

Growing up in public housing, Algernon Quattlebaum had his share of difficulties.
Quattlebaum, 40, remembers having to sell drugs growing up in Patterson Projects of 141st Street in The Bronx. But that ended when he had a spiritual awakening and dedicated his life to serving God and the community.
When drug dealers moved into his Co-Op City building, Quattlebaum recognized that he needed to provide a voice for his neighbors and it has spurred the associate minster at the Co-op City Baptist Church (CCBC) to run for City Council.
“I want to give people, show people, educate people, that they can change the politics of their community, they can change their [life] situations,” Quattlebaum said.
The first-time politician candidate is the president of a local Democratic Club, runs a catering business and also goes to school full time at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
But trying to raise funds to unseat longtime incumbent, Larry Seabrook is proving to be an uphill battle. The City’s Campaign Finance Board records show that he has raised roughly $600 to the councilman’s $12,464. So he’s out pressing the flesh believing that meeting voters will yield more results than fundraising.
“I could give you all of my catchy campaign slogans, but it doesn’t mean a thing to you if it’s on a flyer–but if you shake my hand and I tell you I will bring common sense back to City Hall, I think that’s more effective than any card or commercial,” he said.
Shirley Saunders, 62, a Democratic district leader and one of the eight people running for the council seat occupied by Seabrook’s, believes that despite his vigor, Quattlebaum’s inexperience works against him in the race.
“[Al] just doesn’t have the gray hairs that I’ve got,” Saunders, who has been serving as district leader for ten years, said.
But Quattlebaum’s inexperience is balanced by his youth and activeness said Rev. Dr. Shelden E. Williams, the CCBC senior pastor.
“He’s brought his energy and new ideas to the church, and a willingness to help out where and whenever he can,” he said.
Quattlebaum brought programs to the church that addresses the youth and gangs since joining CCBC about five months ago. He also started putting church sermons online and is using Facebook and Twitter.
“I think that when you have people who aren’t part of the political establishment, it helps because they can bring new perspectives,” Williams added.
Should Quattlebaum lose September’s Democratic primary, it will not be the end of his new political career.
“Four years from now, I’m still young. Four years from now, I will be successful. I truly believe that I represent this community–I just want to live, and I want our people to live,” he said.