Meet the Hopefuls for Assembly Seat Long Held by Retiring Deborah Glick
Candidates competing for the state assembly seat held for 35 years by Deborah Glick, who is retiring. From left: Furhan Amad, Corinne Arnold, Ryder Kessler, Jeannine Kiely, David Siffert and Ben Yee. Photos: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib
Six Democratic candidates are vying for the 66th Assembly District seat held for 35 years by Deborah Glick, who announced last October that she will not seek reelection. The hopefuls will compete in the June Democratic primary. The district runs from Fulton Street to 14th Street on Manhattan’s west side. Assemblyman Charles Fall (Assembly District 61), Assemblywoman Grace Lee (Assembly District 65), and State Sen. Brian Kavanagh (Senate District 27) who also represent parts of Lower Manhattan are so far unopposed.
Below is an introduction to the candidates: Furhan Amad, Corinne Arnold, Ryder Kessler, Jeannine Kiely, David Siffert and Ben Lee. Quotes come from a Downtown Independent Democrats (DID) candidate forum held this month, or a DID candidate questionnaire. Responses to questions regarding the district’s “most urgent issues” are abreviated answers to the DID questionnaire.
FURHAN AHMAD
Ahmad is a retired firefighter who has also worked as an EMT and police officer.
“I’m running in AD-66 because this district sits at the intersection of housing pressure, mental health and substance use crises, climate risk, and Albany decisions directly shape how those challenges are experienced on the ground.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. Mental health and substance abuse
2. Affordable housing and tenant protection
3. The ability to age in place
CORINNE ARNOLD
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Arnold started E-Z Election Solutions, a business that runs elections for co-ops and condos. She is the president of her own co-op.
“I’m running for State Assembly in District 66 because I really want the laws to be thought through and to make a lot of sense. And I want government to deliver on their promises.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. Public safety and street conditions
2. Housing affordability and displacement pressure
3. Quality-of-life erosion and lack of coordinated response
RYDER KESSLER
Kessler is the co-executive director of Abundance New York, a group that advocates for more housing, improved public transit and flood resilient infrastructure.
“Today, the neighborhoods where I played as a kid are at risk of becoming a playground for the ultra-rich. My nephew and nieces will not be able to live here as adults if we don’t take drastic action today—that’s why I’m running.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. Housing affordability
2. Street homelessness
3. Traffic violence
JEANNINE KIELY
Kiely has served as a district leader since 2019 and is the former chair of Community Board 2. She is the co-founder of Literacy Academy Collective, an education nonprofit, and of Friends of Elizabeth Street Garden.
“I’m motivated to run by my desire to serve this community, and in recognition of the large gap between where we are today and what we can all achieve together.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. Housing affordability
2. Healthcare and prescription costs
3. The need for literacy education
DAVID SIFFERT
Siffert is a civil rights lawyer, an NYU law professor and the founding head of the NYU’s State Government Initiative, which aids in the writing and passage of legislation.
“The reason I’m running is because I am a state legislation nerd. I love the New York State Legislature, and specifically what I want to do is give our community a voice in the state legislature.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. The unaffordable cost of housing
2. Human rights abuses of the Trump administration
3. The risks of AI
BEN YEE
Yee works at an education technology startup and is co-founder of You Matter Nation, which holds leadership workshops. He has represented Lower Manhattan on the Democratic State Committee for eight years.
“I have a three point plan to continue delivering for our district, and to make New York a sanctuary for our values, our people, and our democracy.”
Three most urgent issues facing Assembly District 66
1. Affordable housing
2. Climate resiliency and disaster preparedness
3. Lack of accessible health care