With just weeks to go until New York City’s June 27 primary — and early voting running from June 14 to 22 — the race for City Council District 46 is picking up steam, as two Democratic candidates go head-to-head in one of southern Brooklyn’s most diverse and sprawling districts.
Incumbent Council Member Mercedes Narcisse is seeking a second term representing the district, which includes Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island and parts of Sheepshead Bay. She’s facing a primary challenge from Dimple Willabus, an education advocate looking to unseat Narcisse and bring new leadership to the City Council.
Meet the candidates
Incumbent Council Member
Mercedes Narcisse, a registered nurse and longtime community advocate, is the current City Council member for District 46. Born in Saint Marc, Haiti, Narcisse immigrated to Brooklyn as a teenager, attended a local public high school, and graduated from a City University of New York college. Before entering politics, she built a career in healthcare and ran a small business, experiences that continue to inform her work in City Hall.
First elected in 2021, Narcisse now chairs the City Council’s Committee on Hospitals and serves on several others, including Health, Education, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and Infrastructure, Criminal Justice, and the Subcommittee on COVID Recovery and Resiliency.
A mother-of-four, she has earned a reputation as a hands-on legislator with a high-performing district office, which she says ranks among the top in constituent services citywide. Her supporters describe her as a tireless worker and fierce advocate for the neighborhoods she represents.
As a member of the Council’s Budget Negotiation Team, Narcisse says she has delivered “unprecedented victories” for District 46. That includes securing millions of dollars to renovate local parks, libraries and schools, as well as funding for senior centers, after-school programs and other community initiatives.
“I believe in a district that thrives on diversity, innovation, public safety and shared prosperity. I am committed to creating a brighter future for every New Yorker,” she told NYCVotes. “From affordable housing to access to quality healthcare, from education to public safety, my mission is to address the pressing issues we face and to be a voice for progress, equity, and unity. With your support, I aim to continue my mission to champion policies that uplift every neighborhood, prioritize our community’s well-being, and ensure that the voice of every New Yorker is heard at City Hall. Let’s shape a city that truly embodies the aspirations and dreams of its people. Together, we can make a difference.”
Dimple Willabus
Community leader and education advocate
Dimple Willabus, a first-generation Guyanese-American and longtime civic leader, is challenging the incumbent, running on a platform focused on education reform, economic revitalization and community-first leadership.
Willabus currently serves as president of the Community Education Council for District 22 and is a member of several citywide and borough-level boards and advisory groups. She sits on the Mayor’s Education Task Force and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Committee. She is also a Brooklyn Borough President’s appointee on education policy and serves as a trustee at Kingsborough Community College and a board member for Visions, an organization that supports New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired.
Willabus holds a master’s degree in media studies from Brooklyn College and has built a parallel career in media and entrepreneurship. She is the CEO of Rhythm Nation Entertainment and the founder of multiple grassroots organizations, including the Stalwarts Youth program and the First Responders Lions Club. She also mentors students in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at Brooklyn College.
Her campaign platform centers on five key areas: enhancing public safety through community engagement, expanding educational funding and reform, increasing access to affordable housing and senior services, supporting small businesses, and investing in youth development.
Willabus told News12 her campaign isn’t just about winning a Council seat — it’s about creating lasting change for the working-class families who call the district home. “We’re on our knees in this city,” she said. “And the first place we can make an impact is right in our own backyard.”
This roundup is part of an ongoing series. Check back for more information on candidates in competitive races across Brooklyn, and check out our candidate roundups for Brooklyn Borough President, Council District 35, Council District 38, Council District 39, Council District 41, Council District 47, Council District 48, and Civil Court Judge.
