Say Something Real

By Michelle Bryant

Michelle Bryant

There are elected officials, politicians, and public servants. The terms are often used interchangeably but to be clear, there is a difference. You could be one or the other, or if you were former U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, you could be all three.

An elected official refers to individuals voters choose to represent them in government. These officials are typically responsible for making policy decisions and representing the interests of their constituents. Rangel was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1967 and then as a U.S. Representative for the 18th district of New York in January 1971. In that election, he beat Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., which could be its own op-ed, but let me stay focused. Rangel, as a result

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