Black Woman Ready to Roll in NYC Mayoral Race 
Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 01:37PM
TheSpook
vfields.jpg
She came bearing vitamins, toys and good will from the borough of Manhattan, home to thousands of relatives of the people of this island nation. But the visit Friday by C. Virginia Fields, the Manhattan borough president, comes as she prepares a run for mayor and joins the jockeying already under way for support in a community that is considered more in play in this year's race for City Hall. Ms. Fields kept a whirlwind schedule here in the Dominican Republic, dispensing prenatal vitamin pills at health clinics and hospitals, meeting business and community leaders and attending a reception at the largest university here. Months ahead of the election, the candidates are making their interest in Dominicans clear. According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 530,000 people of Dominican ancestry in New York. Although many do not vote, they still represent one of the fastest-growing voting blocs in the city. Ms. Fields's visit underscored the extent to which she could complicate the plans of Fernando Ferrer, a Puerto Rican and former Bronx borough president who is trying to become the city's first Latino mayor. In an interview, Ms. Fields acknowledged that she and Mr. Ferrer had met last week and, although no formal agreement was signed, she said with a laugh, they agreed that attacking each other could divide Democrats and could jeopardize the party's chances of retaking City Hall. [more]
diallofather.jpg
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.