Community leaders and members of the Catskills Homeowners Alliance, comprised of representatives and leadership from major Orthodox Jewish developments and summer communities throughout Sullivan and Ulster County,endorsed George Phillips for Congress in NY’s 22nd congressional district (Sullivan & Ulster Counties) at an event in Brooklyn.

Phillips a private school teacher, is running for Congress against incumbent Maurice Hinchey, an entrenched Democrat and one of the most left leaning and liberal members of Congress. Hinchey, in an increasing sign that his campaign is indeed in trouble, enlisted former President Bill Clinton to campaign for him in Binghamton on Monday, while former NYC Mayor Ed Koch and businessman philanthropist Ron Lauder are set to endorse Phillips this week.

Phillips worked as a congressional aide to Congressman Chris Smith (who represents the Yeshiva community of Lakewood  New Jersey) and was educated first hand on many of the major issues and important concerns of the Orthodox community. With a special emphasis on issues pertaining to the safety and security of Israel and experience on issues of US national and international security, as well as being a strong supporter of  school choice, Phillips has sought out and received support from leaders and activists in the Orthodox Jewish community.

When asked why Hinchey should be replaced, Phillips answered that Maurice Hinchey “is wrong on so many issues.” “I am running on a platform of restoring jobs to New York and promoting economic growth through tax cuts for both businesses and individuals while cutting waste and eliminating redundancy in Washington, D.C.”
Phillips has repeatedly challenged Congressman Hinchey on his failure to support sanctions on Iran and other dangerous regimes, as well as his lack of public support for Israel in this time of crisis.

Activists cited Hinchey’s long failure to sign or support several important bills and initiatives including: the Jackson- Pence letter urging the President to impose sanctions on Iran, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 and the Iran Counter Proliferation Act as reason enough to support a challenge against him. Said one activist, “in the last  year with all the problems Israel has been facing,  Hinchey could not bring himself to sign the Poe- Peters letters on Israel’s right to self defense, or the Cantor-Hoyer letter reaffirming the US-Israel friendship. It is deeply disturbing.” Another continued, “He also did not sign the resolution condemning the damaging Goldstone Report but he did inexplicably sign the now infamous Gaza 54 letter sponsored by Rep. Keith Ellison and J Street, encouraging President Obama to pressure Israel to open the Gaza border.”

In an increasing sign that George Phillips is for real , the NY Post ran an article this weekend highlighting the narrowing upstate race and Hinchey’s vulnerability as an endangered Democrat.

“Hinchey is out of touch with our community and with main stream Americans,” said organizers of the Brooklyn event, and the Jewish community has several thousand voters willing and able to make our voices heard in the upstate Sullivan and Ulster County districts.

Phillips concluded” I am proud to receive the endorsement of this community and will work hard every day to live up to the trust that all Americans should expect from their elected officials.”

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(Organizational affiliation are for identification purposes and do not imply an organizational endorsement)

Ari Schwartz – Chairman Catskills Homeowners Alliance
Chaskel Bennett- Catskills Alliance/ Agudath Israel
Leon Goldenberg-Agudath Israel/ CoJo Flatbush
Moshe Zakheim- Cojo Flatbush
Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus- Cojo  Flatbush
Peter Rebenwurzel- Catskills Alliance
Michael Landau- Chairman Cojo West Side
Larry Spiwak- Cojo Flatbush/ community activist
Sender Rapaport- Community activist
Shia Ostreicher- Community Activist
Raphael Treitel- Community Activist
Beryl Phillips- Catskills Alliance
Yeruchim Silber- Community activist

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