INDEPENDENT SPOTLIGHT

Reginad Odiari

ReginaldFAR  ROCKAWAY, Queens — In 1997 Reginald Odiari immigrated to America from Nigeria. Throughout his life, he says he was guided by the words of President John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” He knew he wanted to live in a free country where the government functions for the good of all the people.

Five years after his arrival in New York, Reginald became an American citizen and immediately registered to vote as an Independent. He had already decided that the Democrat and Republican parties were too tied to the special interests to be a vehicle for his dreams.
 
“An independent man is one who thinks independently and does what is best for the community,” says Reginald. “I support Mayor Bloomberg because he does what is best for the city, not the special interest groups.”
 

Reginald, who now works for the New York Transit Authority as a maintenance supervisor, was looking for a way to participate in independent politics when he was asked to sign a ballot access petition in June. He asked how he could get involved and gain some political experience that he could take back to his community in Far Rockaway.   He came to a volunteer Phon-a-thon to learn more about grassroots organizing and is now actively working to bring out the vote for Mayor Bloomberg on Column C.