Rodneyse Bichotte - Haiti Observer Blog

A more preeminent Haitian legacy has been created following the historical win of the first Haitian American candidate to win the Democratic Party Primary election. The politician, Rodneyse Bichotte, was born to Haitian parents, but grew up in Brooklyn. On Tuesday, September 10, 2014, she won the seat in the New York State Legislature, beating out a fellow Caribbean runner, Jamaican-born accountant and economist, Rickie Tullock. With a margin of 20%, Bichotte edged out her competition, including fellow Haitian Michele Adolphe and Victor Jordan from Guyana, further propelling her towards a win at the general elections in November, as Primary election winners are often ushered into the position.

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Haitian-American politicians stand on the precipice of amassing more power as a voting bloc in Brooklyn. This fall Haitian-American candidates for the 42nd Assembly, Michele Adolph and Rodney Bichotte, will vie for the seat of retiring incumbent Rhoda Jacobs, and Rubain Dorancy is running for the 20th Senate District seat left open by Eric Adams. Victory for them means Haitian-Americans will wield palpable influence in both houses in Albany and New York City, considered hubs of power in New York.

Nationally Haitian-Americans have made enormous strides in the corridors of power. Ex-Director Patrick Gaspard of White House Office of Political Affairs, 2009â€'2012, was appointed U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. And Obama appointee Haitian-American Raymond Lohier ascended to the judgeship of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Haitian-American Jacques Jiha as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance.

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