A slew of endorsements over the weekend bolstered Joe Lazar’s candidacy to succeed Simcha Felder in the upcoming race for the 44 City Council District seat.
But the emergence of another candidate from Borough Park and Lazar’s reluctance to debate his co-frontrunner David Greenfield continues to turn the special election slated for March 23 into a dogfight.
The district includes Borough Park and parts of Midwood and Bensonhurst.
Among the endorsements Lazar picked up over the weekend include neighboring 39th District City Councilmember Brad Lander and his former opponent John Heyer.
In last year’s fiercely contested Democratic Primary in the 39th City Council district, Lander and Heyer battled for the small portion of the district which includes Borough Park.
Though Lander won the Council race, Heyer, a conservative Democrat, did exceptionally well in Borough Park, winning the neighborhood 1,245 to 219, or roughly by a count of 6-1.
Lazar also picked up endorsements from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Rep. Edolphus Towns, State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblymembers Dov Hikind, Peter Abbate, Felix Ortiz, Steven Cymbrowitz and Jim Brennan, State Senator Kevin Parker, and Councilmember Matthieu Eugene.
Lazar said he is humbled by both Lander and Heyer coming out for him, which embraces his campaign slogan that “A Community When United Will Thrive.”
Lazar also took a swipe at Greenfield when he was asked if he would agree to a debate with him.
“I believe in debating people who have a record to debate,” said Lazar. “I don’t believe he (Greenfield) has a record to debate.”
Greenfield, who has received endorsements from former Mayor Ed Koch and other local elected officials, responded that it’s unfortunate that Lazar needs to run a negative campaign.
“I’m not sure why he’s afraid of a debate. I would challenge him to debate every week for the next six weeks so voters can hear directly from him what Joe Lazar plans on doing as a city councilman,” said Greenfield.
While both Lazar and Greenfield have received a good share of endorsements, both could be challenged by longtime Borough Park Attorney Nochman Caller, 62, who also decided to run.
“I’m more qualified (than the other candidates), said Caller. “I’m a Columbia Law School graduate with a lot of experience in law and practical business. We don’t need politicians. We need someone who can get things done.”
Ezra Friedlander, president and CEO of the Friedlander Group government and public relations firm based in Borough Park, said Lazar and Greenfield are both hoping the endorsements will translate into votes.
“Caller could be spoiler. In a three-man race, anything can happen,” said Friedlander. “He (Caller) is still relatively unknown. You could make an argument it (Caller’s running) could hurt or help either candidate.”
Also running in the open election is Republican Jonathan Judge.
(Source: http://www.yournabe.com/)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
8 Responses
I wonder why that would be? The DOV HIKIND candidate refuses to debate someone? hmm thats interesting…
Lazar also took a swipe at Greenfield when he was asked if he would agree to a debate with him.
“I believe in debating people who have a record to debate,” said Lazar. “I don’t believe he (Greenfield) has a record to debate
the real reason in my opinion why Joe Lazar refuses to debate is simple , he is all talk but no action. many times I’ve asked on yeshiva world what Joe Lazar has done for us and nobody seems to know or remember.
the second reason why Joe Lazar refuses to debate David Greenfield is so simple it is pathetic. as Dov Hikind’s puppet he will not know what to say since Dov Hikind will not be allowed to stand next to him . then again maybe Dov will ask for an exception so that he can stand next to Joe or to stand there instead of Joe since we all know that he is Dov Hikind’s puppet and people would like to here the answer straight from the source , which happens to Dov Hikind.
Actually Joe Lazar is 100% percent correct in refusing to debate David Greenfield…
Since Joe knows he will lose the debate hands down why indeed should he debate?
And of course, he didn’t get permission from Dov, so there’s another reason why he won’t debate!
“We don’t need politicians. We need someone who can get things done.”–NACHMAN CALLER, Candidate for City Council in Boro-Park.
Nachman Caller is a well-known Talmid Chochom, in addition to being a very highly-qualified candidate. He has real Torah hashkofos, and he will represent us properly, according to Daas Torah.
He is head-and-shoulders above the other wannabees in this contest!
There is a good chance that Lazar is to busy getting things done OR he doesn’t want to be “GORIM” Greenfield to lie, and we all know that most promises said at the debates are all lies… (Dan Kol udum l’kaf zichus)
As far as Caller who is running on the “im not a politician” scheme, Nice job but we don’t buy it..
lastly YWN im actually a little surprised that this article (on a small scale) is showing support to Lazar (by naming the people who endorse him) plus im assuming they were all called to verify that they did :-). I guess YWN is trying to be neutral for a change
I was seriously considering voting for Joe Lazar because I know his family, but I will not do so anymore. I can’t believe that he thinks it is acceptable to lie about Mr. Greenfield’s record. The front page of today’s Hamodia show’s the latest example of Greenfield’s work for yeshiva parents – he helped secure thousands of free computers for yeshiva students just last week! Really, Joe, shame on you for running a negative campaign.
Lets set the record straight:
This story is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. While Joe Lazar may have misspoke with Stephen Witt of the Kings Courier, who wrote the original story, he has already agreed to debate Greenfield at a Forum hosted by the Jewish Press on Feb. 24th.
When Mr. Witt called Greenfield to comment on Lazar’s remark, Greenfield plays along, as if there isn’t any debate scheduled and says “I’m not sure why he’s afraid of a debate. I would challenge him to debate every week for the next six weeks so voters can hear directly from him what Joe Lazar plans on doing as a city councilman,”.
Greenfield apparently also forgot that he accepted to debate Joe at the Jewish Press Forum on Feb 24th.
Midwood could also be Dov Hikind who lives in Midwood. He always sets the record straight on his radio show.
I listen to the show almost every week and I remember how on his show for the past few years Dov:
1) Bashed Agudah
2) Threathend the Yeshivas
3) Praised David Greenfield
4) Spoke against Rabonim
5) Called the Heyer team trouble makers and some other words
and now cause of his personal agenda he some how forgot these things and became friends with all the Mosdos, Rabonim, Aguda and the Heyer Team to get his friend elected and calling David Greenfield the worst names ever.
Lets not forget on March 23 who the true Dov Hikind is. Just hope all the mosdos, Rabonim, & Agudah won’t regert siding with Hikind for his selfish personal reasons.