asking for a delay. Councilmembers wanted more information on how the nominee
was chosen.
Carter had this to say: “Prior to leaving on vacation, Council Member Noecker
expressed surprise that I would replace ‘a black man who was stepping off the
board with a white man’ while wondering aloud how I could have come to my
decision,” the mayor wrote.
“Minimizing former Deputy Mayor and Project for Pride in Living President Paul
William’s role on the Port Authority board as ‘a black man’ is an insult to his
distinguished career in community development and his nationally respected
development expertise.”
I do think it is reasonable for the councilmembers to ask questions about
nominees. And the mayor can explain why this was the most qualified candidate.
There could be more to this story. Nonetheless, I am proud of Mayor Carter for
speaking on this topic.
As a woman, I am often upset when a qualified person decides that their best
asset is gender. Anytime I hear a candidate reduce herself to the one who
should be elected "because I am the woman and we don't have enough women
running for things" I am saddened. It tells me that she doesn't believe in her
skills, her accomplishments, those don't matter as much as her gender. But, she
probably did work hard for those accomplishments and should talk it up.
Mayor Carter, being Black, may have had a similar reaction to CM Noecker's
comment.
I understand that society at large, for some, may not seem to accept people
other than white men bragging on themselves. But, we who don't push a little
can share a little of the blame. Kudos to Mayor Carter for pushing topics like
the.