JOYCE JOHNSON SPEAKS ON ALLEGATIONS FACING CHARLES RANGEL
Candidate Expresses Concern over "Mudslinging, Without Answers"
Joyce Johnson, Candidate for Congress in New York's 15th Congressional District, made a statement earlier this week regarding the ethics charges brought by a Congressional investigative panel, alleging that Representative Charles B. Rangel had violated House rules over the past several years. The investigative panel did not disclose specific details on the nature of the violations.
Speaking to a group of supporters at her campaign headquarters, Ms. Johnson remarked, "These allegations are of a grave and serious nature, and I am sure the panel will work to expose the truth, whatever it may be. But more serious are the urgent and critical issues our community faces every day. Our neighborhoods are being ignored while politicians engage in a circus of punditry and prediction. This is why I am going to continue to focus on mobilizing support to create jobs, clean up our environment, ensure equal pay for women, and fix our ailing economy. There is too much at stake to engage in mudslinging without answers to our most urgent problems. This very unfortunate time has only strengthened my resolve to see that real change comes to Northern Manhattan."
While Johnson maintained Mr. Rangel is innocent until proven guilty, what disturbs her most about the matter is that "since Thursday, none of the insider chatter has increased the number available jobs for his constituents, eased local parents' anxiety over the upcoming school year, or dealt with our senior citizens' fright over the proposed closing of senior centers throughout our community." She continued, "If found guilty, I will be the first to call for Mr. Rangel's accountability in his violation of the public trust. Until then, I will concentrate on proving to voters that solving the problems facing our District is what's important to me as a leader."
Johnson also expressed concern over a lack of affordable housing in the District, "Housing is a need shared by all of us, by people of different ethnic and economic circumstances, and an affordable place to live is a necessity in maintaining a healthy life." She continued, "As someone who has vigorously lobbied her city and state elected officials to preserve existing, and create new, affordable housing, it saddens me to hear the charges that Mr. Rangel may have abused the system."
A mother and grandmother, Joyce Johnson has devoted her life to her community. For 17 years, she rose through the ranks of Joseph Seagrams and Sons, Inc., a fortune 500 Company. After pioneering as a woman in production management, she broke through the glass ceiling by becoming National Director of Equal Employment Opportunity. Since leaving the corporate sector, Joyce has diligently served in several public service and community activist roles. Most recently, Joyce became a part of history as Barack Obama's New York State Field Director. She resides on the Upper West Side.