Kendall Stewart

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Kendall Stewart (1953) represents District 45 in the New York City Council.

Born in St. Vincent, and educated at Caribbean Union College, Stewart's original profession is podiatry.

He first ran for office in this district-which was designed in order to maximize the political clout of the large West Indian constituency that lies within this area, i.e. Flatlands, Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Midwood-in 1997 against then incumbent City Councilman Lloyd Henry.

Although he was defeated in that race Stewart would go on to successfully contest the seat four years later in a crowded Democratic primary field, which included two other Caribbean-American candidates, and future State Senator Kevin Parker.

As the incumbent from that district, Stewart would face a tough re-election battle in 2004 when Samuel Taitt, who has become a perennial political rival for Stewart, decided to run against him for the seat yet again.

One of the issues raised over the course of the campaign was a comment Stewart made that his opponents, as well as many Haitian-Americans, viewed as being derogatory towards Haitians. In response to an article publised in the Daily News, which accused him of being a delinquent landlord, he asserted that the poor condition of his rental properties were the result of the behavior of Haitian-Americans. He also accused them of breaking locks, which he described as a "cultural thing."[1] [2]

In addition to comments that his opponents-and others-deemed to be culturally insensitive, Stewart was also taken to task for his stewardship of several large apartment complexes, which prompted his controversial remarks.

Stewart was also chastised by his opponent in multiple re-election races for endorsing Governor George Pataki, and opposing legislation in the City Council that some Democrats viewed as vital to ensuring the protection of consumer protection laws and tenants' rights.

During Sam Taitt's rematch against Councilman Stewart in 2005 he insinuated that Stewart's campaign might have been behind defamatory campaign pamphlets circulated within the district one week prior to Election Day, a charge that Stewart's campaign vehemently denied. [3]

In addition to his role on the City Council, Stewart has also been Democratic District Leader for the 58th Assembly District.

He is an alumnus of City College, and New York College of Podiatric Medicine.