Conrad B. Tillard Sr.
2:24:03
Thank you, commissioners.
2:24:05
Thank you for allowing me to have a few moments to speak enthusiastically on behalf of open primaries.
2:24:13
I am a clergyman in New York City that has served congregations in Harlem, Bedford Stuyvesant, and Flatbush.
2:24:21
I'm also an adjunct, at City College, and, I have also run for office.
2:24:29
And it has become evident to me in talking to my young students and also voters in my last election that there is an increasing movement, towards, people becoming registered independents.
2:24:45
I have often said in our country, we are becoming increasingly religiously tolerant and politically intolerant.
2:24:55
But what I've noticed from my last race as we were running against a particular organization and I was advised to tell my constituents that I am a real democrat.
2:25:08
And because I am not as good as some of those other, democratic activists that don't talk to democrats, I spent a lot of time talking to people who told me in no uncertain terms that there was frustration with both parties, that they were registered independents.
2:25:26
And I began to tell them that I understood their desire to be independents, but I encouraged them to register democrat because I was it was very clear to me that they were disenfranchising themselves.
2:25:43
And then I thought about it, and I realized I was con contributing to the problem because people have the right to be political independents, and they should not be coerced to join a party.
2:25:56
As a registered democrat, my party has talked frequently, throughout the country about voter access.
2:26:04
And we make the argument, very persuasively that the more access, the more days for voting, the more options for voting is actually good for democracy.
2:26:16
And so I realize now that I shall no longer ever encourage anyone to become a democrat just to be able to vote, but I will recognize their right as citizens and taxpayers who incidentally contribute to the matching funds program.
2:26:32
I will recognize their right to be independent voters, and I will strongly advocate, and I've been working with clergy and will be submitting letters to say that New York City should have an open primary system as to ensure maximum voter participation.
2:26:48
Thank you so much.
