Monique Chandler-Waterman (born January 14, 1981) is an American community organizer and politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 58th district since May 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Chandler-Waterman won her seat in a special election to fill the seat vacated when N. Nick Perry was appointed U.S. ambassador to Jamaica.[1]
Early life and education
Chandler-Waterman was born in New York City, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and Barbados.[1] She attended PS 135 and Boys and Girls High School, and later received bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Berkeley College and Metropolitan College of New York, respectively.[2]
Political career
Chandler-Waterman worked as a community outreach director for Jumaane Williams. She also founded youth-focused nonprofit East Flatbush Village in 2008.[3] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as director of ground support at New York City’s Test and Trace Corps.[4]
2019 city council campaign
Following New York City Councilmember Jumaane Williams' resignation to take office as the New York City Public Advocate, Chandler-Waterman ran in the special general election to fill his term in the 45th district on May 14, 2019. Williams endorsed her, while Eric Adams and Frank Seddio backed Farah Louis.[5] Chandler-Waterman placed second, behind Louis, with 29.3% of the vote.
She also ran in the regular Democratic primary election on June 25, again placing second behind Louis with 43% of the vote.
New York State Assembly
Following State Assemblymember N. Nick Perry's resignation to take office as the U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Chandler-Waterman was nominated by the Brooklyn Democratic Party County Committee as the party's nominee in a special election to fill his term in the 58th district on May 24, 2022.[4] She won the election with 79.8% of the vote, defeating Hercules Reid, whom New York City Mayor Eric Adams endorsed, on the Education is Key ballot line and Monique Allen-Davy on the Republican and Conservative Party lines.[6]
She won the primary election to a full term on June 28, again defeating Reid with 65.3% of the vote.[7]
Personal life
She is married to Eric Waterman, with whom she has four children.[2] Waterman previously worked as a football coach at Samuel J. Tilden High School; he was suspended without pay from the role for failing to report a sexual assault allegation in October 2019.[3]
Electoral history
2019
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Farah Louis (incumbent) | 4,690 | 49.9 | |
| Democratic | Monique Chandler-Waterman | 4,039 | 43.0 | |
| Democratic | L. Rickie Tulloch | 175 | 1.9 | |
| Democratic | Xamayla Rose | 163 | 1.7 | |
| Democratic | Jovia Radix | 132 | 1.4 | |
| Democratic | Adina Sash | 95 | 1.0 | |
| Democratic | Victor Jordan | 53 | 0.6 | |
| Democratic | Anthony Alexis | 46 | 0.5 | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 9,403 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Unified 45 | Farah Louis | 3,949 | 40.6 | |
| A Vital Voice | Monique Chandler-Waterman | 2,848 | 29.3 | |
| Justice for All | Jovia Radix | 871 | 9.0 | |
| Community First | Adina Sash | 696 | 7.2 | |
| Peoples Movement | L. Rickie Tulloch | 638 | 6.6 | |
| Rose for Progress | Xamayla Rose | 545 | 5.6 | |
| Unite to Uplift | Anthony Alexis | 119 | 1.2 | |
| Last Chance | Victor Jordan | 46 | 0.5 | |
| Write-in | 16 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 9,728 | 100 | ||
References
- ^ a b King, Nelson A. (May 27, 2022). "Monique Chandler-Waterman Humbled by Landslide Special Election Victory". Caribbean Today.
- ^ a b "Monique Chandler-Waterman - Assembly District 58". Assembly Member Directory. www.assembly.state.ny.us. New York State Assembly. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Sanders, Anna; Chapman, Ben (April 17, 2019). "Brooklyn City Council candidate berates cops while protesting husband's DOE suspension". New York Daily News.
- ^ a b Brachfeld, Ben (April 15, 2022). "Monique Chandler-Waterman wins Dem nomination for Flatbush Assembly seat". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Coltin, Jeff (April 17, 2019). "Jumaane Williams backs Chandler-Waterman to replace him". City & State. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Brachfeld, Ben (May 25, 2022). "Monique Chandler-Waterman wins East Flatbush Assembly special election, defeats Adams pick Reid". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Goldiner, Dave (June 29, 2022). "N.Y. Assembly District 58: Monique Chandler-Waterman wins in rematch with Mayor Adams-backed Hercules Reid". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ "Primary Election 2019 - Democratic Member of the City Council, 45th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "General Election 2019 - Member of the City Council, 45th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Special Election 2019 - Member of the City Council, 45th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
