Takedown

Kiki Charles

Age: 26

Resides:: Riverdale, Bronx

Occupation: Executive administrator

Were you surprised by the election results?
Yes. The Democrats kicked some of the
Republicans out, and Newt is gone!

Which other nonpolitician should run?
Angela Davis.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? I’d create a completely new party system where it’s full of people of color. I want the whole goverment to be run by people of color.

J. Stephen Brantley

Age: 28

Resides:: Homeless

Occupation: Writer-
performer

Were you surprised by the election results? Yeah. I was pleasantly surprised that D’Amato is gone.

Which other nonpolitician should run? I would love to see Waylon Jennings and Dan Savage on the same ticket.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? Full and equal rights of protection for everybody, including rights for gays to marry and have children. Further action towards AIDS
education and prevention, and an overhaul of social services for homeless people, something I’m dealing with now.

Marissa Madoo

Age: 21

Resides:: Borough Park, Brooklyn

Occupation: Student

Were you surprised by the election results?
A little bit. I’m
surprised D’Amato
didn’t win, especially
in my neighborhood. I live in a Jewish area.
I voted for him.

Which other nonpolitician should run? I like the fact that people who don’t have a political background are going into politics. But I can’t think of anybody.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? Education. I’m an education major. I don’t see why the chancellor needs a raise, he hasn’t really done anything.

Billy

Age: 32

Resides:: East Village

Occupation: Artist

Were you surprised by the election results?
I don’t think so. I
believed the Democrats would gain in the House. All that
Republican brouhaha backfired.

Which other nonpolitician should run? Even though he’s antigovernment, George Carlin would be a good choice.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? Let artists show their work any place they want. Also, to be able to occasionally drink a Bud in Washington Square Park.

Carl Johnson

Age: 47

Resides:: Flatbush, Brooklyn

Occupation: Service
coordinator

Were you surprised by the election results? No. People I voted for won.

Which other nonpolitician should run? Maybe Denzel Washington. He’s got some presidential qualities, at least in acting.

If you ran, what would be your priorities?
Employment and education. Also, defense. You can’t have a good workforce or students
if the military is weak.

Karen Petersen

Age: 26

Resides:: East Village

Occupation: Florist

Were you surprised by the election results? Grandpa Al Lewis got 48,000 votes. It’s a nice change.

Which other nonpolitician should run? I’d like to see Jack Kevorkian made Surgeon General.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? I’d like to improve outdoor recreation areas in the city.

Logan Caballero

Age: 19

Resides:: Central Islip Occupation: Student on his own

Were you surprised by the election results? Pataki won again. That seriously scared me.

Which other nonpolitician should run? We went from a bad actor in the ’50s to a pro wrestler. What’s next, Muppets?

If you ran, what would be your priorities? I’d make it so you can’t have those TV ads.

Jeanne Sinclair

Age: 20

Resides:: West Village

Occupation: Student

Were you surprised by the election results? I don’t even know the results.

Which other nonpolitician should run? I come from Vermont, which has an Independent congressman. He’s been shaking things up. Other than that, I’d say Beck Hansen.

If you ran, what would be your priorities? Freedom of the people, women’s rights, equal opportunity. Basically a kind of laissez-faire policy. You know, let the people be free.