In a last-ditch effort to win, Theresa Ciccotto is using posters in her Bay Ridge neighborhood urging a vote for “one of us” that some of our column’s readers view as anti-Semitic. This apparent appeal to Theresa’s neighbors to not vote for a Jewish candidate has, of course, not appeared in any Jewish neighborhoods only in the heavily non-Jewish neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights.

Yeshiva World News was sent a photo of one of these posters by an outraged reader. The photo was take on 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge. “I can’t remember the last time I saw a judicial candidate publicly campaign on such an offensive slogan,” said one political consultant. “I believe that the rules of judicial conduct may well prohibit this kind of negative campaigning for a judicial seat.”

As YWN reported yesterday, the 5th district judicial seat, which includes all of Borough Park, Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, has traditionally been held by a Jewish Judge, but questions have arisen whether another Jewish candidate is running solely to siphon votes away from frum front-runner Shlomo Mostofsky.

“We need to send a clear message that this kind of campaign will not be tolerated in Brooklyn,” said a community leader. “Everyone should go out and vote for Shlomo Mostofsky for Civil Court Judge.”

The importance of Civil Court Judges can not be overstated. Aside for their role in resolving traditional financial disputes including credit card and mortgage case,
Civil Court Judges are routinely promoted to higher levels of judgeship and are able to have a significant impact on the communities that they judge.

Shlomo Mostofsky shot to the front of this race for Judge after receiving the strong endorsement of Councilman David Greenfield who cited Mostofsky’s vast legal experience
and reputation for integrity and fairness. Greenfield’s endorsement was followed up with glowing statements attesting to Mostofsky’s leadership as an askan from HaRav Yisroel Belsky, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel and Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser among other community leaders.

For all intents and purposes the race will be decided in today’s Primary Election. Polls close today at 9pm.

(Dov Gordon – YWN)

This is a small selection of a new exclusive political analysis & opinion column – Backroom Deals – available in Yeshiva World News print edition being distributed on Fridays in Boro Park & Midwood. If you live in Boro Park or Midwood and would like a free weekly subscription please email your name and address to: [email protected]. The views expressed in this column are solely the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YWN.