Ambitious Jamaican running for town supervisor in New York

WESTERN BUREAU:

Ambitious 23-year-old Cornel Fisher, a first-generation Jamaican, is hoping to become the next town supervisor for Greenburgh, New York, in the United States.

Fisher launched his campaign just last month and is already looking forward to unseating current town supervisor, Paul Feiner, in the June 2025 Democratic primary. While Feiner has held office since 1991, Fisher told The Gleaner that he is excited to throw his hat in the ring. He is also the youngest candidate to ever challenge Feiner in a democratic primary.

“I was raised in Greenburgh, and I know the United States is kind of facing a pivotal time right now, especially in politics. There’s a lot of polarisation, and lack of confidence and trust in our leaders, so I thought I could possibly present some forward-thinking ideas from a younger perspective,” said Fisher, a naturalised Jamaican.

He told The Gleaner that his decision to run for office was born out of a desire for better representation. Fisher is hoping to lobby for “more job creation; more investments in youth, green infrastructures, commercial spaces and mixed-use buildings”.

Greenburgh is the largest town in Westchester County, New York, with approximately 95,000 residents.

“The town is very stagnant in terms of economic development, so I thought why not give the people a choice,” he said.

OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT

Since launching his campaign, Fisher said he has been met with an outpouring of support and kind words from the people on the ground. However, his youthfulness has come under attack from online trolls who believe that he lacks political experience and is simply too young for office.

“There has been a lot of misinformation about my character that I have never had a full-time job, or I’m too young to run for office and I should work my way up the conventional way,” he said.

Fisher’s journey in public service began at age 16 with an internship at the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations. He later interned at the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York. He has done several stints of voluntary service with the United Nations. He was also a youth volunteer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Eighth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in 2019.

The Jamaican-American youth further completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations at the Anglo-American University in the Czech Republic.

Fisher has since co-founded CP Global Advisors, a business model geared towards procurement projects in agriculture, fisheries and ecotourism in the Caribbean and Africa. He told The Gleaner that he has had two successful deals in Jamaica.

“I have been able to leverage my skill set and international connections to supply Jamaica [with fishing equipment]. Being Jamaican-American, I thought it was very helpful that I could possibly broker some deals at a competitive price. I have done that so far successfully.”

READY TO STEP UP

Confident in his ability, Fisher said he was ready to step up to the plate as town supervisor regardless of the naysayers.

“It’s not a matter of age or experience, it’s a matter of whether or not I can govern with integrity, forward-thinking ideas and accountability. That is kind of what I want to shape and revitalise in politics to make sure that there’s a level of trust with the people. This election is really important to me,” he stressed.

“There are a lot of people who have been elected at the age of 18 and 21. This is not a matter of age. This is a matter of the ideas that can progress us forward,” Fisher added.

Born to Jamaican parents, Fisher was raised in a single-family household after his father was murdered in Philadelphia. He often journeyed to Jamaica where he spent many holidays with family members in Runaway Bay, St Ann.

He told The Gleaner that his family is proud of his decision to run for town supervisor.

“They’re pleased with my youth and passion, but there’s a sense of nervousness too, given the current political landscape I’m stepping into,” he said.

Fisher also believes that his candidacy stands as a motivation for other young Jamaicans who are interested in politics.

“Don’t get discouraged when other people, especially people twice or three times our age, try to intimidate us. Always aim high and your aspirations will be achieved,” he said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com