INDEPENDENT SPOTLIGHT

Candice Harrison

Born and raised in Brownsville, Booklyn, Candice met the Independence Party just as she was graduating High School and looking for a summer job.  She accepted a position helping independents get on the ballot.  She was not yet a voter and thought this would turn out to be just a summer job.  However, once she started working Candice was impressed with the Independence Party’s grassroots organizing perspective.  “These independent voters aren’t just names on a list. The Independence Party really cares about its members, and we want to speak to them about the important issues,” she said.

 

Candice left for college in North Carolina where she majored in Sports Management, but returned each summer to help out with IP ballot access drives.  After graduation she moved back to Brooklyn, registered as an Independence Party member “…because New York City government needs to be reformed.  The two party system needs to be changed because not everyone has a voice.”

 

She began volunteering on a regular basis – getting out mailings, staffing events and making phone calls to welcome new members.  “Independents have to work ten times harder than the Democrats and Republicans,” she comments.   Last year Candice introduced her younger sister, Dominique, to the independent movement and helped her arrange to do her high school community service work at the Independence Party office.  She has also trained many other independents in the city party’s phone room.

 

This past September, Candice was elected to the Kings County Executive Committee, becoming the youngest member of the borough’s leadership team.  “I never thought I’d get this far.  Now I want to keep growing and be able to influence other young voters.  I’m just happy that I’m an independent.  I can see how a tiny idea can come to fruition. One thing I really look forward to is some day being able to vote in an Open Primary in New York City someday.”