GOP Press Release
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, AUGUST 26, 2010—Members of the New Rochelle City Council today called for a special meeting next month to appoint long-time community leader Pearl Quarles to fill the council seat that has been left vacant by the untimely death of Councilman Jim Stowe.
One of the Council members, Richard St. Paul, said that leaving the seat vacant through the end of the year would be a disservice to District 3 residents.
“Residents in this district, as in all districts throughout our city, deserve representation. It wasn’t that long ago, in 2003, when a redistricting lawsuit against the City of New Rochelle secured the voting rights of District 3 residents,” recalled Councilman St. Paul, who was one of the attorneys representing residents who brought the redistricting lawsuit.
“It was important seven years ago to secure the voting rights of the minority-majority district, and it is equally vital today that we make sure the residents of District 3 are properly represented in the City Council,” Councilman St. Paul added.
Councilmen Lou Trangucci and Albert Tarantino have joined Councilman St. Paul in calling for a special September meeting of the City Council to appoint Ms. Quarles to fill the vacancy.
The councilmen maintained that waiting until the November election is not an option because the person elected to the District 3 seat would not take office until January 1, 2011, which would leave the seat vacant for an additional four months if the Quarles appointment is not made early next month.
“As we celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, to quote this great civil rights leader, ‘Justice too long delayed is justice denied,’” St. Paul said.
In advocating for the appointment of Ms. Quarles to the vacant seat, Councilman Trangucci said, “Pearl Quarles has lived in District 3 for more than 60 years and has spent a lifetime of serving the New Rochelle community and beyond.”
Added Councilman Tarantino, “Pearl Quarles has served in numerous government and community positions, including school board president and county legislator. When it comes to advocating on behalf of our community, she has the track record, experience, service and results.”
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Martin Sanchez is an attorney, businessman, and community leader. Sanchez previously served on the New Rochelle Board of Education and has been an outspoken voice for New Rochelle's Latino Community.
