Hoping to make history in the 2025 elections, Lawman Lynch is in the runnning to represent New York City Council District 41, which includes neighborhoods like Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, East New York, and Oceanville. If elected, Lynch would become the first Jamaica-born male to serve on the City Council.
His candidacy follows in the legacy of Una Clarke, who in the 1990s became the first Jamaican to hold a seat on the Council—also representing a Brooklyn district.
Born and raised in Woodford Park, Kingston, Lynch’s early life was shaped by both hardship and leadership. He attended several schools in Jamaica, including Salvation Army Basic School, Alpha Infant School, Ripoll Primary, and the prestigious Wolmer’s Boys’ School. He also attended the University of the West Indies, although he did not complete his studies there.
He was an active member of the People’s National Party Youth Organisation and engaged in political activism from a young age. That activism came with risks—in 2010, his car was firebombed while parked outside his home, in what was believed to be an act of political violence. The incident prompted his decision to leave Jamaica and migrate to the U.S., where he eventually settled in Brooklyn.
Now, with over a decade of service in education and youth development, Lynch is drawing on those lived experiences as he steps into the political spotlight. “I am a Jamaican-born educator, youth advocate, and community leader who has proudly called Brooklyn home since 2010,” he said in a candidate survey. “My lived experience as an immigrant, my work in education, and my deep ties to the neighborhoods of District 41 have shaped my understanding of what our communities need—not just to survive, but to thrive.”
Lynch earned a bachelor’s degree from CELA International University in 2016 and later completed a graduate degree at St. Thomas University in 2022. His professional path includes work as a program director and manager, with leadership roles in nonprofits focused on youth, education, and community development.
He is the founder of the Lawman Lynch Foundation, a nonprofit that operates in both the U.S. and Jamaica, and the CEO of CariGlo Diaspora LLC, which owns the MyPaadna fintech platform. Lynch is also a former New York State chair of the Jamaica Diaspora, a former chairman of the ACP Civil Society Forum in Brussels, and a past member of the Safe Schools initiative in Jamaica.
His campaign is guided by the values of P.E.O.P.L.E.—Public Safety, Education, Optimization, Public Health, Love, and Entrepreneurship—and he emphasizes a bottom-up approach to leadership. “I’ve led afterschool programming, partnered with schools and nonprofits, and created safe spaces for youth to grow, learn, and lead,” Lynch said. “Leadership is about meeting people where they are.”
He’s also committed to improving access to mental health services, housing security, and education equity. “I believe policy should be rooted in justice, informed by community voices, and guided by love and inclusion,” he added.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 24, 2025, with the general election to follow on November 4. If successful, Lynch says he intends to be a visible and consistent advocate for the district. “District 41 deserves bold, honest leadership that doesn’t just show up at election time,” he said.
Reflecting on his political awakening, Lynch pointed to the 1990 release of Nelson Mandela from prison as a turning point in his consciousness. “ I was a child living in Jamaica at the time, but I still remember the impact it had on my family and community. It was more than just international news—it was a moment of hope, especially for people across the African diaspora. It showed me early on how powerful leadership, resilience, and justice can inspire change worldwide. That moment sparked my awareness of global struggles for freedom and human rights, and it continues to shape my values today.”
