The seat to replace Councilman Mike Nelson in the 48th Council District may be the only competitive race to watch, in the entire Borough of Brooklyn, in next Tuesday’s elections. While the Republican and Conservative candidate, former Senator David Storobin, is still seen as the favorite to win the district that has a majority of Russian-speaking voters, the rift in the GOP locals and the write-in candidacy mounted by Russian radio mogul Gregory Davidzon has given the campaign of Democrat Chaim Deutsch some push in the final stretch.
Despite spending less money in advertisements, Mr. Deutsch picked up the endorsements of a majority of the weeklies as well as the support of the Rabbanim and community leaders in the Orthodox Jewish community. Josh Mehlman, founder of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition and a supporter of Mr. Deutsch, told The Jewish Week that there’s a reason to believe that a united Orthodox Jewish electorate could hand an easy win to the Democrat.
Mr. Storobin, who’s running with the support of the State Republicans, is banking on the heavy Russian population and his name recognition in the Jewish community to overcome the political establishment’s desire to see one of their own represent the District.
But Mr. Storobin’s trouble may start at home. GOP consultant and staffer on the campaign of Joe Lhota, O’Brien Murray contributed $1,750 to the campaign of Chaim Deutsch, City Finance Board records show. Murray, known by his nickname “OB” is not a stranger in the Orthodox Jewish community. He managed Republican Bob Turner’s successful campaign for Congress in a 2011 special election and conservative Democrat Simcha Felder’s successful state Senate run last year, all in which the Jewish community played a major role in determining the election.
In a phone interview with YWN, Murray suggested his contribution was a vote of confidence in the Democratic candidate. “Chaim Deutsch has been a leader in the community. His involvement for more than 20 years with the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol has kept our children safe,” said Murray. “Chaim will represent the community well.”
(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)
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6 Responses
OB Murray only bets on winners – Republicans for Deutsch – l’Chaim!
GOP consultant O’brien Murray is hedging his bets wisely- backing Chaim Deutsch is a sure thing. Storobin is no favorite to win anything, except the sympathy of his backers the day after elections. He owes an apology to all voters for claiming to have the backing of many prominent rabbis. I challenge him to produce one! There is only one frum candidate who will look out for us. The frum community must vote on Election Day and heed the endorsements of all the rabonim to back Chaim. Daas Torah is rarely wrong!
If the frum residents of the 48th Council district actually take the time to vote we can have a frum qualified member of our community on the NYC Council, Chaim Deutsch
If I am not mistaken Storobin promised to produce a list of rabbis supporting him in the middle of October. Looks like he forgot to mention a year. Anyway, with election just around a corner, please remember, us, the voters will decide who will represent us in City Council. Please come out and vote for Chaim! Go Chaim!
OB Murray is a sleazy operator, the types that are destroying the Republican party. He has a beef with David, because David did not endorse Turner for Senate, because OB screwed up and didn’t stop Turner getting redistricting out of office. This caused Turner to join into Senate race late, after David already endorsed in that race.
OB is a moron, and has now once again backed a Democrat over a Republican.
Obie Murray is a sore loser whose still upset at making a late night call to David Storobin and begging him to back Turner over the conservative candidate Wendy long. While this move may have been feasible early on, Murray being the lazy bum that he is couldn’t get his act together in time for it to count. This was after he swore to Turner that he wouldnt be re districted. There was no way David Storobin was going to break his word. Not even for his good friend and fellow Republican Bob Turner.
Obie has been a sore whiny, loser ever since and hopped party lines to help the Democrat Candidate when he had a perfectly good republican candidate on the ticket.
Obie went where the money was. Obie was paid a fortune to get the Democrat elected at a time when there was one Republican shaking up the Gop in Brooklyn and frankly NY..that republican was David Storobin.
Its people like Obie that have kept the divide going in Jewish neighborhoods in this city where they vote Republican nationally and vote Democrat locally. This vicious lock that the Democrats have over this community could have finally been broken with a true conservative if it were not for the laziness,greed and complete lack of moral compass that is Obie Murray.
Boro park will forever be in the death spiral grip of the democrat parties clutches thanks to this Murray person. Obie is everything that is wrong with the Republican and Democrat parties. Hes a political mercinary and no one with a brain takes him seriously.
Kenny Rice.