The White Plains Democratic City Committee
The White Plains Democratic City Committee District Leaders and Committee officers work diligently to represent every community within the City of White Plains to advance the goals of the Democratic Party. As members of the White Plains Democratic City Committee, we strive to elect candidates and support elected officials who are dedicated to Democratic Party ideals of ” justice, equality, and building a strong vibrant community where every voice is heard. The energy and activism of our members and elected officials help us to achieve our goals. If you are interested in representing the people of White Plains and furthering the ideals of the Democratic Party, we welcome you to join us!
Join us for our monthly meeting
every third Thursday of the month.
Election Day is TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2023 The polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm
Vote on Election Day at your usual voting place or VOTE EARLY on
SATURDAY, October 28, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, October 29, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
MONDAY, October 30, 2023 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, October 31, 2023 from noon until 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, November 1, 2023 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, November 2, 2023 from noon until 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, November 3, 2023 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, November 4, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, November 5, 2023 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The Early Voting locations in White Plains is the Board of Elections office at 25 Quarropas Street. Another nearby EARLY VOTING location is Greenburgh Town Hall at 177 Hillside Avenue.
VOTE DEMOCRATIC
Ben Boykin
County Legislator Ben Boykin is seeking re-election to a sixth term to the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) in District 5 (serving most of White Plains, all of Scarsdale and West Harrison).
Ben is currently serving as Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the BOL and served as Chair of the BOL for four years (2018-2021). Under his leadership as Board Chair, the Board passed more progressive legislation than at any other time in recent memory. He was Chair when the Board celebrated its 50th anniversary and during the pandemic, the most severe health crisis to hit the world in over 100 years.
Ben was elected Second Vice President of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) in September 2022. In this NY State leadership role, he works with NYSAC to address critical issues facing counties across the state. In addition, Ben was honored by the Westchester Ben was honored by the Westchester-Putnam AFL-CIO Labor Body and the Northeast Stem Academy with Leadership Awards in October 2022.
He was a member of the White Plains Common Council for fourteen years, from 2000 – 2013, and elected Council President three times. Prior to the Common Council, he served seven years as a member of the White Plains School Board. Legislator Boykin worked as a CPA for 49 years and is currently President of Ben Boykin & Associates, a financial consulting firm.
Ben is very active in the community. He is a member of Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains; the White Plains Democratic City Committee; and the Black Democrats of Westchester County. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his service helping individuals.
He is married to Carsandra Boykin and they have two daughters, LaSandra Boykin and Dr. Nicole Boykin.
Jewel Williams Johnson
After a long successful career as a non-profit professional, Jewel Williams Johnson was elected to the Board of Legislators representing the 8th Legislative District in November 2021, succeeding her mother, Alfreda Williams. Jewel serves as Chair of both of the Board of Legislators’ Committee on Budget & Appropriations and the Committee on Health. She also serves on five other committees: Environment, Energy & Climate, Housing, Human Services & Equity, Law & Major Contracts & the Seniors & Youth Committees as well as serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Housing.
Legislator Williams Johnson highly regards community involvement and has always been active in her community. During her years of volunteerism, she has held many leadership positions. She is the immediate past president of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Inc. (WBWPC), a former member of the Westchester County Women’s Advisory Board. & former President, Women’s Ministry at Bethel Baptist Church; former Advisory Board Member of WCLA Choice Matters; and is also an occasional contributor on politics for The Westchester County Press . She is a District Leader with the Greenburgh Democratic Town Committee.
Jewel strives to always be accessible and attentive to citizens’ concerns. She grew up in Westchester and is a graduate of the Greenburgh Central School District. She currently lives in Westchester with her husband, Lacy Johnson, her mother and their Dalmatian, Jasper.
Victoria (Vicki) Presser
Council Member Victoria Free Presser has lived on Battle Hill since 1981; her two sons graduated from the White Plains Public Schools. She has an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and a Master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Vickie pursued a successful career in nonprofit and governmental public information for over 45 years, assisting a variety of organizations and constituencies, including the Westchester County Office for the Aging, Westchester Children’s Association, GLSEN, the Center for Healthcare Education and Research at Pace University, and the Bronx Borough President’s Office.
Vicki recently retired from her position as Public Information Officer for the Scarsdale Public Schools after 18 years; during that time, she served in various leadership roles in her profession, including as president of the New York School Public Relations Association.
Vicki is a member of Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains, and when she was President of her congregation, oversaw the rebuilding effort after the synagogue was damaged in a devastating fire in 2003. She is an active member of the Battle Hill Association; helped found the Friends of White Plains Youth Bureau and served on its Board for four years; and advised the Friends of White Plains Public Schools on rebranding and outreach. While living in the Bronx, she served on Bronx Community Planning Board 7.
She has long been active in Democratic politics, serving as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention, and was a co-founder of the Manhattan Women’s Political Caucus.
For donations to the campaign, please make checks payable to Friends of Victoria Presser, mailed to 112 Alexander Avenue, White Plains NY 10606, or donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/vpresserforcouncil.
Jennifer (Jenn) Puja
Council Member Jennifer Puja was the youngest woman ever elected to the White Plains Common Council and began her term in 2020. She currently serves as the Recreation Advisory Committee Chair for the White Plains Recreation & Parks Department. She is also an Advisory Board Member for the Mount Sinai Selikoff Center for Occupational Health, an active PTA parent at Post Road School and is a member of the Labor Sub-Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
Jenn is the Executive Director of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, a non-profit organization, representing over 100,000 working families in Westchester and Putnam. Jenn interfaces and collaborates with community, religious, social justice and educational groups. She has a passion for giving back and she forms partnerships with groups to serve those in need.
She’s been recognized for her contributions and service to the community: City & State 40 Under 40 in 2020, Mediterranean People & Communities (MPAC) Women in Labor Award 2020, Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health Person of the Year Award in 2019, Westchester Young Democrats Honoree 2017, Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO Labor Service Honoree 2016, Women of the Workforce Calendar Honoree Workforce Development Institute 2015, USAA National Collegiate Communications Award 2007, Delta Epsilon Sigma Honors Society 2006.
Jenn is a summa cum laude graduate of both Iona College (Bachelor’s) and Long Island University (dual Masters). She lives in the Gedney Meadows neighborhood with her husband and two children.
For more information please see http://www.facebook.com/PUJAforWP
Donations can be accepted at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-jenn-puja-1
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson
Jeremiah is running for the Common Council for the first time. A 12 year resident of White Plains, he has been an active volunteer in the Community. He sits on two White Plains City Committees: the SustainabilityCommittee where he is chair and works to prepare the City for the effects of Climate Change and the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, which he formerly chaired and on which he continues to work to increase accessibility for White Plains residents with disabilities. His commitment to public service does not stop there. Among other volunteer activities, he serves on the Board of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, volunteers to deliver meals with the White Plains Meals on Wheels program, and serves as Vice Chair of the White Plains Democratic City Committee.
Jeremiah is a partner in and a founder of a White Plains law firm that employs 21 people. As a small-business owner, he understands the unique issues small businesses face. His firm has achieved record-breaking recoveries for vulnerable plaintiffs including workers, residents of understaffed nursing homes and consumers who have been defrauded. His firm worked pro bono to protect undocumented children who were being caged at the border and to help tenants facing eviction. Prior to founding his law firm, Jeremiah worked at a national non-profit that focused on childrens rights, protecting children in the foster care system. He has received multiple awards for civil rights work.
Jeremiah graduated from Skidmore college and Stanford University School of Law. He lives in the Gedney Farms neighborhood of White Plains.
His priorities on the Common Council include making our City more affordable (including affordable housing), more sustainable (including more green space), and making sure that white Plains is accessible and safe for all.
For more information, please see: www.facebook.com/JFP23
For donations to his campaign, please visit www.// https://tinyurl.com/JFPContributee
Democratic Party nominees 2023 from left to right: Jewel Williams Johnson, Victoria Presser,Ben Boykin, Jennifer Puja, Jeremiah Frei-Pearson