NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — Caribbean nationals are on Tuesday casting ballots for two popular Caribbean candidates in New York’s general elections.

City Council Members Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, and Haitian-born Dr Mathieu Eugene, are seeking another four-year term in districts in Brooklyn that are predominantly Caribbean.

Dozens of races are on Tuesday’s ballot, headlined by Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose wife, Charlene McCray, has traced her roots to Barbados and St Lucia.

The polls opened at 6:00 am (local time) and are scheduled to close at 9:00 pm.

Williams, who represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, is running on the Democratic and Working Families parties’ line. He is challenged by Anthony Beckford, of the True Freedom Party. “It is my hope that I have earned your trust and an opportunity to represent the 45th District in the New York City Council for a third and final term,” Williams told voters before casting his ballot.

“The last eight years have truly been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career,” he added. “If you want to continue the work we’ve begun and make sure the next four years are an opportunity to create a long-lasting foundation for future generations, please come out to vote. “Some of you may feel that I may not have a competitive race,” Williams continued.

“To those of you that are pondering such thoughts, I ask you to look at the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC [President Donald J Trump] right now. We are well past the point of taking anything for granted.”

Democrat Eugene, the first Haitian to hold elective office in New York City, represents the 40th Council District, juxtaposed to Williams’ 45th Council District.

Eugene — who defeated Brian Cunningham, whose mother hails from Jamaica, in the Democratic Primary in September — is again challenged by Cunningham in Tuesday’s vote.

Cunningham is running on the Reform Party line. Another Eugene challenger, Brian Kelly, is contesting the seat on the Conservative Party ticket.

“I know that I couldn’t have come this far without you,” Cunningham told voters Tuesday morning. “You’ve dug deep and given your time, energy and resources.

“You believed since day one that it’s our time to reform our broken political system and return power to the people,” he added.

“Our current representative has proven incapable of adequately leading our community for 10 long years,” Cunningham continued. “So, I’m asking you to come out to the polls and vote. Let’s make this dream a reality and take back our district!”

But Eugene said the reason for his success is that he has dedicated his life to community service.

In Brooklyn, he said he has been “well known and respected for more than a decade as a community leader, educator, health professional, local media personality and founder of the non-profit organisation, YES (Youth Education and Sports).”

This organisation, which served thousands of Brooklyn youth and their families from diverse backgrounds, promoted self-esteem, discipline, respect and skill development in preparation for success in school and life.

Eugene said his priorities are “to ensure quality education with smaller class size, improve access to healthcare for all people, expand employment opportunities, improve public safety services and police/community relations, improve affordable housing opportunities and support immigrant rights, as well as provide strong advocacy for neighbourhood preservation and homeowners.”

The Brooklyn-based Progressive Democrats Political Association (PDPA), headed by former New York City Council Member, Dr Una S T Clarke, who is Jamaican born, said on Tuesday that it is “fully supporting the re-election or Mayor Bill de Blasio.”

“Let us do what it takes to keep our city on course as we retain this mayor and progressive City Council Members, who will be continuing our fight for a better, fairer city,” Clarke — whose daughter, US Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn — told the Caribbean Media Corporation Tuesday morning.