Espaillat, Keith Wright And Susan Johnson Cook – All In Fray To Succeed Rangel

Governance has been as old as the civilization itself. The human societies felt the need for leadership that could take decisions regarding the peace, progress and welfare of those who are represented. Humans also have an inherent tendency to organize behind an able leader and are always ready to select one whom they find suitable for the job. Earlier, in the primitive societies, the selection was rather crude and often the leader exhibited authoritarian styles of functioning. People accepted the orders; however, trends also developed when leaders acquired super powers and went on to inflict hardships like through excessive taxation, oppression, justice by decrees and such other forms that became undesirable.

Democratic processes were chosen to replace the oppressive and aggressive regimes and rules. Allegiance towards the king gave way to respect of rights of the individual citizen. The last two centuries saw development of bright democracies like UK, US and India among others. US will be going for congressional vote in November 2016. NY 13th congressional district contest is much talked of and electorate would find the successor of incumbent Democrat Charles Rangel by choosing from among Adriano Espaillat, Keith Wright and Susan Johnson Cook and others. There is brisk contest planned in the months to come as the long serving Charles has announced his retirement early in 2014 itself.

US – manifesting democratic maturity

Democratic processes in US have got much advanced and sophisticated and there are many reasons for the same. The US democracy is one of the oldest in the world and has come a long way through a continuous process of evolution. People have gradually learned to use their democratic rights, especially during the time of elections. They know how to organize their burning issues and make them the core points in the elections. Sorting of the topics of relevance is what is required and educated people of US are now benefiting actively through the democratic functions and traditions of their nation. The system of primaries introduced in the US elections has generated an additional buffer in the process and helps breed the resonances. People are allowed to know and choose their leader; rather than being forced to vote for the candidates that have been blatantly and unilaterally chosen by the political parties there.

In Indian democracy, we do not find this system; may be it would adopt the same as it attains maturity equivalent to US! The systems of primaries expose the preparedness of the candidates for the election and people/registered members of party get the chance to filter out the candidates that are not suitable. This time, NY 13th congressional district is attracting the attention of media and analysts because Charles Rangel who enjoyed the popular vote from the region is quitting his constituency and new batch of politicians including Adriano Espaillat, Keith Wright and Susan Johnson Cook are in the fray!

Seeking successorship

Rangel has been long time incumbent and when he announced his absence in 2016 election, the dynamism started to brew. New generation democrat candidates including Adriano Espaillat, Keith Wright, Susan Johnson Cook, Adam Clayton Powell, Mike Gallagher, Clyde Williams are all trying to encash the affinities their party enjoys in this congressional district!