Kingsbridge Heights votes in Dominican election

Dominicans living in the Bronx will play a significant role in determining the next president of the Dominican Republic when ballots are cast on Sunday, May 20.

But one of the most high-profile Dominican-Americans in New York politics — state Sen. Adriano Espaillat — is not going to weigh in on the race.

“For that, you’ve gotta wear a bullet proof vest,” Mr. Espaillat said while visiting the Riverdale Temple for the Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club’s annual dinner on May 2. “I’m not getting involved in that.”

Mr. Espaillat has his own race to concentrate on. He’s taking on longtime incumbent Rep. Charlie Rangel for Congressional district 13, which now includes a sizeable chunk of the Bronx including the Dominican-heavy population of Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights.

Though he’s not picking sides, Mr. Espaillat said he thinks the election will energize the Dominican community, which can only help his chances of defeating Mr. Rangel. 

Only those with dual-citizenship can vote in both elections. 

Based on bumper stickers on cars, posters on telephone polls and informal interviews, there is much support for Hipólito Mejía among Dominicans in Kingsbridge Heights. 

Mr. Mejía, of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, is running against Danilo Medina, of the Dominican Liberation Party, which is currently in control of the small Caribbean nation.

Mr. Mejía’s slogan “Llego Papá,” roughly translated as “Daddy has arrived” or “Here’s daddy” is plastered around Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights on livery cabs and shop windows. 

Mr. Mejía served as president from 2000 to 2004 and residents who support him said the current political party has failed the country. 

“The island has a lot of delinquency. There isn’t a lot of work in Santo Domingo. There’s a lot of violence. They are not doing a good job for the population,” Kingsbridge Heights resident Carmen Martinez, 40, said in Spanish.