Ramapo’s Chassidic Jewish bloc vote provided the margin of victory for Democrat Thomas Zugibe for district attorney and for Republican Sheriff James Kralik’s re-election, according to unofficial election returns and officials involved in the close contests.
After being lobbied by Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a New Square leader told The Journal News yesterday that the community gave Zugibe 1,978 votes to 23 for Republican incumbent Michael Bongiorno, who had been promised the community’s vote until the governor intervened last week.
Zugibe beat Bongiorno by 1,223 votes in the countywide race, according to unofficial tallies from the Board of Elections.
In the sheriff’s contest, New Square and Kaser combined to give Kralik 2,987 votes, compared with 45 for Democrat Tim O’Neill.
(The Journal News)
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8 Responses
Why did they renege on their promise?
The vote goes to the highest bidder, of course.
I don’t understand? Why were there 23 votes for Bongiorno and 45 for O’Neil? Did these 23 and 45 chas vesholom not listen to the Rebbe Shlita or they just didn’t know what they are doing in the voting booth?
B’H!
It proves our communities influence in elections and once again demonstrates to politicos that our best interest is their best interest.
It’s very dangerous to break promises to politicians. They will get even. Did Spitzer threaten them, or did he bribe them?
B’H!
It proves our communities influence in elections and once again demonstrates to politicos that our best interest is their best interest.
Comment by Joseph — November 8, 2007 @ 11:17 am
R E P L Y
True, but sad. Where is the concern for the rest of the community? Does the rest of the world not matter?
FAHR GELT ALLES
Keep in mind that some THIRTY THOUSAND people voted for Zugibe – why did Bongiorno lose THOSE votes? It’s easy for the media to focus on the “Hasidic bloc” but we’re just talking about two thousand votes, about 3% of the total votes cast for DA. And while it is easy to isolate the “Hasidic bloc” because of the geographic district system, ALL voters (or at least all informed ones!) vote for the candidate they believe will best serve their interests.
Some politicians are more effective than others at clarifying why it is in a voter’s best interest to vote for him, but all candidates seek the endorsements that guide voters’ decisions. Why not talk about the “union bloc” when unions endorse candidates? The union members who vote for the endorsed candidate are doing the same thing the chasidim are doing when they vote for the candidate endorsed by the Rebbe, except that the union leaders are more corrupt and less likely to be endorsing a candidate who is truly in the rank and file’s best interest.